Candle lights for Nepal ,state’s wake up

The candle light vigil held at Khyndailad for Nepal's earthquake victims — ***The candle light vigil held at Khyndailad for Nepal’s earthquake victims***

SHILLONG, MAY 2: Shillongites on Saturday held a candle light vigil to expressed their sorrow with the victims of the Nepal earthquake and also showed their solidarity even as the participants urged Meghalaya government to start pulling up its socks and remain prepared and upped its disaster management pointing out that Meghalaya is in Zone V under ‘seismic prone region’.

Hundreds of people from all walks of life lit candles while taking part at the candle-light vigil at Khyndailad.

The candle light was organized by a group of students and youths drawn from the nooks and corners of Shillong showing their solidarity with thousands of families who were killed in the Nepal earthquake.

Reports have indicated that the death tolls have gone up to more than 6000 in the earthquake.

“We are here to mourn the loss of so many precious lives due to the tragic disaster that came down on Nepal and also to show our complete solidarity with their families,” Milan Baghdas, a youth from Shillong told reporters.

Baghdas, who is part of the youths group that organized the candle light vigil, said, “We decided that when the whole world is crying for Nepal, then why not held the candle light and pray from this hilly state for the departed souls and their families at this time.”

Baghdas said, people irrespective of caste, greed and religion people have joined hands by promptly gathering to light candle as a mark of oneness with the Nepal victims.

Pointing to Meghalaya, a state which has also witnessed a major earthquake in 1898 with a much higher magnitude, the youths however expressed concern over the level of preparedness of the state.

Stating that Nepal earthquake should be taken as a lesson, Dhiraj Thakuri of Nongsohphoh said, “Coming to Shillong and the state, the level of preparedness is not at all up to the mark.”

Thakuri said the youths request the state government to improvise its level of preparedness in the interest and safety of all its citizens and also hold awareness campaigns.

Thakuri said whatever happened in Nepal should not happen to any other countries.- By Our Reporter