Ruma's profileA Brand New DayPhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
|
April 12 Just Another "Event". The April 11th, 2006 newspaper headlines:
60 perish in Meerut Fire." At least 60 people, mostly women and children, were charred to death and more than 100 injured, some of them seriously, in a devastating fire that ravaged a consumer goods fair here (Meerut) on Monday evening."
Is there any justification for any country which claims to be racing towards the 22nd century to treat it's citizens thus? Is there any plausible,logical, explanation that the MNC's involved in the trade fair can give,that did away with several lives in a bid to hard- sell its products? Is it the first time that such an incidence has happened, with frightening similarity and regularity? Do the "Event Management" people really care what can go wrong, at a site which draws hundreds of spectators?
I am sorry to say that the answers to the above are all "NO".
No one is really bothered, and human lives in our country are taken very lightly indeed. Be it the several "human error" railway tragedies that have happened over the past few years, terrorist attacks at busy market places due to "security lapse", or fires ravaging exhibitions. We as a nation simply refuse to learn from past mistakes. The deceased's kin are given a "compensation"of a couple of lakhs of rupees, and the "critically injured" (read: fighting for their lives in intensive care") are given a few thousand. Politicians make a big noise about how concerned they are and fly in on helicopters to "inspect" the scene. Rallies and protests block roads,in the aftermath of all disasters, and furthur damage is carried on by hooligans on the lookout for some fun...pelting riot police with stones, burning public transport and downing shutters of shops forcibly.
The funny thing is, no one is really bothered until and unless someone near and dear to them is affected. Do you know, all unconcerned citizens, event management folks, and "organisers" of all such trade fairs: the frightening fact is that such a thing can happen to anyone ,anywhere...it may be your turn next! My heartfelt plea to the government authorities: Isn't it time the government takes strict steps to ensure the safety of it's citizens at such places...be it the railway station and trains, exhibitions and fairs, and other sensitive zones? Why was synthetic material used to make an air-tight enclosure, which is highly inflammable, and only ONE exit/entry point? You don't have to be a rocket scientist to follow the basics of safety. Questions will keep plaguing the public mind only till the next "event" or "episode " or "tragedy" (Haadsaa, in Hindi news channels) takes place.
Concerned Indians: this is a wake up call: do not attend such fairs "organised" by greedy multinationals, who do not care for human lives. If you notice the basic safety measures not being followed, LEAVE THE PREMISES AT ONCE....your life is too precious to yourself and your family.
Comments (3)
TrackbacksThe trackback URL for this entry is: http://littlemissmuffet19641964.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2C33083FBA19208F!415.trak Weblogs that reference this entry
|
|
|
