It was horrific hearing and reading about the fire at an office building in Bengaluru (Bangalore) yesterday that claimed at least nine lives. But what was even more disturbing was finding out that five of those fatalities were people who jumped out of the inferno in the hope of escaping the flames and fumes.
Some newspaper reports claimed firemen encouraged the jumpers to take the leap after having hurriedly spread out some nets and padded them with clothes and mats. The padding was not nearly enough. Each one of the people who jumped died within seconds of taking that big leap of faith.
I am aware that rescuers at times ask people to jump out of burning buildings, but they are generally better prepared to catch the victims and save their lives. What happened in Bangalore's seven-storey Carlton Towers last evening was just appalling. If those people had hung on, they'd probably have had at least a slim chance of surviving.
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Appalling is certainly right. But do we care? Or rather who cares? For all you know investigations will reveal that all safety norms had been flouted, to begin with.
ReplyDeleteUn-professional behaviour by our "professionals" seems to be the order of the day.
Am I cynical? Only tragically realistic, I think.
Tragic and sad...I don't know what to say...
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