Shillong illumited on Christmas Eve

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Dec 24: The Shillong city has been illumited on the eve of the Christmas even as local citizens as well tourists got embedded in between the mad rush and the frolic of festive activities.

Shopkeepers ranging from garments to cake doing brisk business in the city as hundreds of customers thronged the major business hub to the last minute.

Cabbies in the city have also taken the advantage of rush and charged more fares from the commuters.  “A trip from Shillong to Cherrapunjee (Sohra) costs as high as from Rs 4500 to 5000,” a tourist from West Bengal told this correspondent.

Locals also alleged that the prices of commodities have soured.

The surge of tourist inflow to Shillong has reached to such an extent that there is virtually no room left in hotels.

“All rooms in hotels were booked before December 20”, a hotelier told this correspondent.

He said that thousands of tourists from far flung areas have assembled in Sohra.

Churches of various denomitions have geared up for the midnight services and special Christmas service to mark the herald of Christ.