分类： society

A month after the tragic death of Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg, the state of Assam continues to grieve deeply for its beloved artist. Zubeen, who passed away at the age of 52 in a drowning accident in Singapore, was cremated with full state honors on September 23 in Kamarkuchi, a small village near Guwahati. Since then, the cremation site has transformed into a pilgrimage spot, with thousands of mourners, spanning all ages and religions, visiting daily to pay their respects. The emotional outpouring has drawn global attention, with media giants like the BBC, Al Jazeera, and The Independent covering the collective grief of Assam. Zubeen’s influence extended far beyond his music. Known for his genre-defining compositions, he was also a fearless advocate for social and political causes, a philanthropist who donated generously to the poor, and a cultural ambassador who revitalized Assamese cinema. His death has united people across faiths, but it has also reignited political tensions in Assam. The state’s BJP government and opposition leaders are locked in a bitter feud over the investigation into his death, with allegations of negligence and political opportunism clouding the tragedy. Amid the turmoil, Zubeen’s legacy as a symbol of Assamese pride and humanity remains untarnished. His music, which blended traditional Assamese sounds with Western rhythms, provided hope during Assam’s darkest times in the 1990s, marked by violent separatist movements. Today, as Assam mourns, Zubeen’s life and work continue to inspire, reminding the world of the power of art and compassion.

A devastating bus fire in Andhra Pradesh, southern India, has resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people and left several others injured. The incident occurred early Friday morning when a bus collided with a motorcycle on a highway, causing the motorcycle to become trapped beneath the vehicle. The collision ruptured the bus’s fuel tank, leading to an explosion and rapid engulfment of the bus in flames. The bus, en route to Bangalore with approximately 40 passengers on board, was completely gutted by the time firefighters arrived at the scene. Eyewitnesses reported hearing passengers screaming for help as locals rushed to rescue survivors. Some passengers managed to escape through an emergency exit window, while the bus driver and cleaner fled the scene. Authorities have launched an investigation into potential fuel leakage and allegations of negligent driving. Most passengers, who had boarded the bus in Hyderabad, were asleep when the fire broke out. The motorcyclist involved in the collision was among the fatalities. Forensic teams have been dispatched to identify the bodies, with DNA tests likely required in some cases. Indian President Droupadi Murmu expressed her condolences, calling the incident “unfortunate” and extending her sympathies to the bereaved families. This tragedy highlights ongoing safety concerns in India’s public transport system, where overcrowding and disregard for safety regulations are common. Road accidents remain a significant issue in the country, with speeding and reckless driving contributing to India’s status as having the highest number of road fatalities globally.

A tragic accident in southern India resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people after a passenger bus burst into flames following a collision with a motorcycle. The incident occurred early Friday near Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, according to senior police official Vikrant Patil. The fire rapidly engulfed the bus, which was carrying 44 passengers traveling between Hyderabad in Telangana state and Bengaluru in Karnataka state. The motorcycle, which crashed into the bus from behind, became stuck and was dragged along the highway, generating sparks that ignited the bus’s fuel tank. Despite the driver’s attempts to extinguish the flames using a fire extinguisher, the fire was too intense to control. Many passengers were asleep at the time, and while some managed to escape through smashed windows, others were tragically trapped and killed. The motorcycle rider also perished in the accident. Forensic experts are investigating the cause of the fire. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed their condolences to the victims’ families. This marks the second fatal bus fire in India in less than two weeks, following a similar incident in Rajasthan earlier this month that claimed 20 lives.

Sally Maddison, a 44-year-old British expatriate and founder of MINT Market in the UAE, has transformed her tumultuous relationship with money into a story of empowerment and growth. Having moved to Dubai in 2008 to be with her now-husband, Maddison’s financial journey has been shaped by both personal and professional experiences. Her childhood, marked by the volatility of her entrepreneur father’s ventures, instilled in her a mix of resilience and anxiety around money. Her mother’s free-spirited approach to life taught her to pursue passion over profit, but Maddison has since learned to balance this idealism with practical financial management.