India, Oct. 2 -- Barak Valley's Durga Puja celebrations in Assam came to a somber close on Thursday, as grief and heavy rains cast a shadow over the grand finale.
The sudden passing of cultural icon Zubeen Garg in Singapore on September 19 deeply affected the mood, turning what is usually a vibrant farewell into a heartfelt tribute.
While Mahashtami morning began with bright skies and devotional fervor, the weather took a dramatic turn by evening.
Violent storms hit Silchar, uprooting pandals, plunging neighborhoods into darkness, and flooding several parts of the town.
In Tarapur, a massive decorative light gate collapsed, damaging an auto-rickshaw, while waterlogged streets and power cuts disrupted festivities across the city.
Despi...