‘In 24 hours from now, as we party like there’s no tomorrow, yesterday’s tragedy should remind us how easily this could turn into a literal fact.’ This was Mumbai Mirror’s chilling comment after the horrendous rooftop fire which killed 14 revellers. The previous night, I’d berated a fellow TV panelist who’d diluted the restobar’s culpability by saying patrons should check out safety arrangements. Yet, last September, after 24 commuters perished in the Elphinstone Road station stampede, i myself had written about the public’s cavalier disregard for its own life and limb. So what right did i now have to be so righteously indignant? Simply this. My column wasn’t directed at those who had virtually no choice other than to cram on that narrow bridge. My despair was over pedestrians who blithely walk and jaywalk on manic carriageways – attention glued only to cellphones – even when there are unobstructed pavements.
Was my co-panelist justified in saying that the self-obsessed party-set should also spare a thought for self-preservation? Yes and no. Yes, because it’s their only hope in today’s pervasive will-flout-can-bribe culture. No, because we must not resign ourselves to this as a fact of life – and death. Carefree hedonista, beleaguered commuter, every one of us should be able to take for granted that we can work, shop, play, or escape, safely. Sadly, Mumbai’s sub-humanly overburdened local trains make daily risk inevitable, however unacceptable that is. But there’s no excuse at all in this pretentious city’s preening, pricey pleasure domes.
When we traipse into a restaurant, why should our first task be to check out the fire exits or the combustibility of the furnishings? Safeguards should be a given. Else, put up the kind of notices pasted on condemned buildings or arthritic lifts warning us to ‘use them at your own risk’.
As of now, all we can safely assume is that greedy entrepreneurs will cut corners, public officials will cut deals, and lives will be cut short. We go through a charade of security checks at the entrance while the terror lurks inside. Too foolish to wish for a conscience?
Source: The Times of India