Bouncing Back
3rd July
4 days of incessant rain bring the city to a standstill. The city’s Disaster Control Plan is a disaster. Even one year after the 26/7 experience, and several million in relief budget already spent (or down the drain!), Mumbai gets flooded with just a few hours of heavy downpour. Communication virtually non existent. FM stations still airing bollywood tracks instead of useful public announcements.
7th July
Members of a political party practically run amok throughout the state, burning tourist buses and breaking window displays of malls and shops, all because someone allegedly threw some mud on the statue of their leader’s mother! The police do almost nothing to take them to task. Citizens patiently await the end of the unrest, half-hoping that tomorrow will be a “bandh” holiday.
11th July
Mumbai is rocked by a series of 7 blasts in a span of 30 minutes, across its Western suburban rail system. This is the second serial blast attack in the last 15 years by terrorists that habitually wreak havoc in parts of Kashmir including, as recently as, blasts the same morning in Srinagar! The government’s response? They announce a compensatory sum for the victims of the blasts, and will pick up medical costs incurred in the process. That’s it.
No strong measures. No retaliation on neighbourhood governments that harbour such terrorists. No steps to improve life for the common man. The city’s Disaster Management Plan is still a disaster; Relatives of victims have to go from one hospital to another (spread across the city, with all traffic halted, in pouring rain) just to find out where their kin are. FM stations are still blaring bollywood tracks, interspersed with a few “news” updates on the tragedy. TV channels air gruesome images of blood and mayhem. Newspapers ask “citizen reporters” to contribute photographs, so that circulation is not left behind.
Once again, good samaritans save the day. Unknown faces, slum dwellers, help victims to get to hospitals and contact their loved ones. Mumbai offers its citizens yet another opportunity to “bounce back”.
Mumbai’s spirit triumphs again. Or does it ?!
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Update: July 23, 2006
Mumbai petitions the PM :
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
Mumbai is tired, impatient and very angry. It doesn’t want the praise. It wants its dues. For too long have we received only empty accolades. Now it’s payback time…
Sign the “Enough is Enough” petition. Make your opinion count.
Awful it is, this spate of incidents throwing life out of gear for the people of Bombay. I believe they are helping themselves inspite of a impotent government.It is a matter of time before another incident cripples the city.What will it take to pinch or nudge the government to take action ?