Trial by fire

The last one to die was the affable Deputy Chief Officer, Sudhir Amin, a man who had been awarded the President's Gold Medal for bravery, right after the 2611 attacks. The other two men who lost the valiant battle were appropriately honoured in death by their grief-stricken colleagues and families. But what the hell ­ this terrible tragedy could have been easily avoided had the authorities not been as callous, as indifferent, as cavalier. It is shocking that our firemen are not given the basic protective clothing they are entitled to. That these firemen are stuck with a manual from the British zamana, dating back to the 40s. Even worse is the administration's apathy to the abysmal conditions these extraordinary men work under. And charges of corruption are rampant. Just like our soldiers and police officers who are deprived of basic equipment and provided sub-standard weapons to fight on our behalf. Clearly, somebody in the food chain is getting a big fat cut on contracts. Mumbai firemen are treated with scant respect and expected to perform miracles during emergencies. The city lacks the infrastructure to fight major blazes ­ especially those that engulf high rises. We don't have the required water pressure. Nor do we have snorkels that can access top floors of skyscrapers. New residentialcommercial complexes are given municipal clearances without adequate scrutiny. Nearly every building in Mumbai is a fire trap. The old ones made of timber (like the gutted Kalbadevi building) are dangerous tinder boxes...time bombs ticking away. But our authorities have other priorities. What's a few lives lost here and there? Hota hai...they shrug, and wait for the next bribe.

In the midst of this tragedy, there are also inspiring stories of hope and good neighbourliness. One such involves a young couple, Priyanka Pol and Swapnil Surve. The wedding date was fixed for May 30th. As in most traditional families, the wedding trousseau, gifts, and jewellery collected over months, had been carefully stored at home, only to be devoured by the flames that reduced their precious possessions to a heap of smouldering ash. Moved by the plight of the 24-year-old bride-to-be, her thoughtful neighbours, led by Mahendra Pansare, a local merchant, decided to contribute money, kitchen utensils, household items, so that the young couple can start life afresh. What a heart-warming story! The same Kalbadevi merchants have also come together to help the families of the three firemen who lost their lives, and are hoping to collect sufficient funds to give Rs 2.5 lakh to each family. Once again, it is left to the people of this great city to rise up and confront a calamity. That Mumbaikars do it time and time again (terror attacks, monsoon floods), says a lot about our citizenry.But what about the lack of response from the heartless administration that refuses to reach out to its own people ­ the very people who pay taxes and expect just basic services in return for their hard earned money?
Priyanka Pol and her fiancé will make it to the mandap on time, I'm sure. And their large-hearted neighbours will, no doubt, be an important part of the celebration. Amidst the subdued revelry, there will be fears about the state of the other precarious buildings in the area. Will this terrifying blaze force the merchants to remove highly inflammable chemicals stored in gigantic cans, right next to gas cylinders and exposed electrical wiring? Will concerned citizens lead a morcha to Mantralaya and compel the government to address safety issues, not just in Kalbadevi, but across Mumbai? Will Kalbadevi corporators bother to conduct meetings with representatives of the area and push them to take quick, remedial action?

What about re-examining permissions given to all new towers across Mumbai? Does any officer have the guts to insist on it? The builders' lobby functions as a parallel government, answerable to nobody. It can afford to ­ given that it is run by politicians who are Mumbai's biggest and most blatant landlords.

There are thousands of similar infernos waiting to happen. Why should brave firemen have to sacrifice their lives because building societies flout fire safety rules? Who will rewrite the 40's manual and update antiquated laws? I guess we all have the answers to such questions. A few token transfers of negligent officers will not solve the problem. As citizens we have our rights, too. Most of us are not aware of them. Those who are don't want to fight for them.Which is why we are stuck with thugs who parade as our representatives. The power we give them over our lives is the power we have meekly surrendered to them in the first place. Isn't it time we displayed the much-needed collective will to reclaim what is rightfully ours?