Are Mumbaikars supposed to walk around in armour?

The rescue operations being conducted at the collapse site. File Pic/Sameer Markande

What started as innocuous winds, gathered tempo, turning into a dust storm on Monday late afternoon, claiming many lives. Several persons are dead while others battling serious injuries after a huge hoarding, reportedly illegal, fell on a petrol pump in the suburbs.

Now, some kind of high-powered committee will look into this.

If such a tragedy had not occurred, would anybody know whether the hoarding was illegal? Even if someone did, would anybody care? This goes to the root of the problem: till some disaster occurs, we let things continue the way they are. The rot has seeped in to such an extent that the system is compromised. We allow or turn a blind eye to illegalities and wake up only when there is widespread outrage and one is forced to show that there will be accountability and action.

After falling trees in the monsoon season, now people must be careful about billboards. One cannot help but wonder how exactly are people supposed to walk in this city. Keep an eye out for trees. Then, keep an eye out for falling billboards. Keep your eyes on the road as one has to avoid potholes. Keep an eye on the footpath you are walking on, when it has not been encroached because of broken tiles, height differences and general shoddy work. Try to avoid tripping over debris and rubbish piled up in corners on our pavements. Duck ti avoid low-hanging wires. Is the Mumbaikar not supposed to walk at all and somehow be magically transported to his destination? Is he supposed to wear helmets everywhere? Will ordinary attire or even raincoats now not suffice and should citizens wear armour throughout?

Leave aside pouring rain, it is pouring projectiles in Mumbai, with not a single safe space for harried citizens.