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This year’s Chhath festival concluded on Monday by offering argha to the rising sun. The festival begins on Chaturdashi and concludes by offering arghya to the setting sun on Shashti and to the rising sun on Saptami. The devotees who observe fasting and the family members gather at the banks of rivers early in the morning and wait until the sun rises. With sunrise, they offer arghya to the sun. Following this, they distribute prasad to fellow devotees at the Ghat, the place where arthya is offered to the rising sun. Blessings are sought from elders. After returning from the Ghat, fasting women break their 36-hour fast by taking ginger and water. And then they eat food. Main message of the Chhath festival is coordination, inclusion and sanctity. The festival is a collective resolution made under the leadership of women for the welfare of society and family. The Sun considered as the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress as per the time-honored tradition. The festival is observed as common cultural symbol of the Tarai.

At least 30 people were killed and dozens critically injured when a suspension bridge in India’s western Gujarat state collapsed on Sunday, two government officials told Reuters news agency, Aljazeera reported. “We can confirm that 30 people have lost their lives, many have been rescued from the river, and some are still missing,” said Amit Jhala, a senior administrator at the state-run hospital to where victims were taken. More than 400 people were on the bridge over the Machhu River in the town of Morbi at the time of the collapse, local TV channel Zee News reported. Footage broadcast by the TV channel showed dozens of people clinging onto the cables of the collapsed bridge as emergency teams struggled to rescue them, according to Aljazeera. The 230-metre historic bridge was built during British rule in the 19th century. It had been closed for renovation for six months and was reopened for the public last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in his home state Gujarat for a three-day visit, said he has directed the state chief minister to mobilise teams urgently for the rescue operation.

Somalia’s president says at least 100 people were killed in Saturday’s two car bombings at a busy junction in the capital and the toll could rise in the country's deadliest attack since a truck bombing at the same spot five years ago killed more than 500, The New Indian Express reported.

An Indian construction company has provided Rs 1.6 million in compensation to the family of a Nepali boy who died in the course of a road construction. An agreement to this effect took place among the Indian Garg & Garg Company, the Indian administration, members of the victim's family and local Nepali people's representatives. A representative from the construction company handed the amounts to the family of the victim amid a function here, said Chief District Officer Dirgharaj Upadhyay. A nine-year-old Nepali boy, Pawan Mahara, was killed after a stone hurled from an explosion made in the course of constructing a road in the Indian side hit him. He died on the spot. He along with his father, mother, brother and sister was walking on the banks of the Mahakali river opposite to the construction site in the Nepali territory when the incident occurred. The incident took place at Dumling of Byas Rural Municipality in Darchula district on Friday. "We were walking on the river banks when the incident occurred. Daughter Sarina was injured in the incident. She is taking treatment at the district hospital," said the deceased's father, Hikmat. "The construction company handed the compensation amounts. They will be deposited in a joint bank account of the deceased's father and mother on Monday when banks are open," he said. The compensation amounts would be used on the schooling of his children, he added. Meanwhile, the Nepali side has expressed its concern over the blasting carried out by the Indian side without warning. According to International practices, neighboring country (ies) should be informed about an explosion in the course of the construction of any physical structures along the international borders. But, the explosion by the Indian side was not informed beforehand, claimed the Nepali side. "Local administration of both parties should coordinate before an explosion at international borders," said CDO Upadhyay.