We’re brought up on Hollywood movies showing brave firemen sliding down poles, racing to their gleaming engines, sirens wailing, and gallantly charging into burning buildings to rescue helpless kittens and terrified tenants.
And here in Mumbai? Ah, dream on, my friend, dream on!
Yesterday, a fire broke out in a posh area—first floor of a lovely building. You’d think the fire brigade would come tearing down the road, bells clanging, hoses unfurling, and heroes leaping into action. Instead, what happened? Nothing. Zilch. The fire brigade didn’t even answer the calls! Yes, you heard me right. The emergency number probably rang and rang while our brave boys might have been busy snoring.
It was only after thirty-five excruciating minutes—and a little friendly persuasion from the police—that the fire brigade finally sauntered in, looking more like guests arriving fashionably late to a party.
And by then, tragedy had struck. A young lady, all of thirty-four years old, lost her life. Thirty-five minutes of silence from those entrusted to save lives. Thirty-five minutes of waiting, praying, pleading. And a life snuffed out forever.
What are these fire brigades for, really? From what I’ve seen—and I say this with a heavy heart—their primary concern seems less about saving lives and more about savings in their bank. I remember, a ffew years ago, when my wife’s car caught fire due to a short circuit. What did the firemen do? Rushed to save the car? Extinguished the flames with heroic gusto? No, no, no! They were far more interested in asking how much money we were willing to shell out for a certificate—a piece of paper to make the insurance company happy.
Duty, you ask? Nobility? Heroism? My dear friend, the only fires they seem interested in are the ones that burn holes in your wallet.
And it’s not just the fire brigade. Look around. The police, the civic bodies—everywhere, it’s the same sorry story. Youngsters dreaming; not of serving the nation, but of securing a job where 'income' isn’t defined by a salary slip but by ‘other sources.’
Now tell me, is any action being taken against those firemen who turned up late? Will the officer in charge be suspended? Are we going to see any real accountability? Or will it be just another footnote in tomorrow’s newspaper, sandwiched between cricket scores and celebrity gossip?
And more importantly, are you going to raise your voice? Are you going to demand change? Or are you going to say what most of us are saying now, “It’s okay, as long as our religious places are built and other religions thrown out!”
Ask for accountability my friend. Otherwise, you might just find yourself staring at a distant, lumbering fire engine, as smoke and tragedy swirl around you…!
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