2 martyrs per 10 sq m every 10 days !!!

It was 3rd Feb 2010 (Wednesday) when two teenaged siblings were crushed to death right in front of the gate of the block that I live in.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Siblings-crushed-by-DTC-bus/articleshow/5532917.cms

The street on which this incident happened is like that of a typical residential colony, where it’s difficult to imagine buses plying on them. Thanks to the DDA shopping center built few years back, one would find all sorts of cars parked in a manner, which may be referred to as the modern avatar of Civil Disobedience Movement. ‘Civil Disobedience’ seems to be deeply imbibed into the very ethos of the political capital. The idea of not obeying laws and more so in terms of Civic-“Non”-Sense is something that we have derived quite literally out of our history text books. The main attraction in the shopping centre is undoubtedly the "Hori Lal Pan Shop" and followed loosely by "Apni Rasoi"/"Dominos" as food centers. Of course, I didn’t mention that the complex is also a Hide-Out for Open-Air Drinks Parties. There used to be a Liquor Shop here some time back. And instead of controlling the Open-Air Drinks Parties, they shut the shop instead due to complaints from the Resident Welfare Associations of the adjacent blocks. The parties continue though.

I must also mention here that this lane is the route to two major schools in the area (less than 100 yards away) and a hospital (opposite the school). The entry to this lane is plagued by the clutter caused due to car shops, gym, bank and the shopping centre. A special mention that the shops (in residential complexes) had been closed down by authorities before and they re-open again as always.

Like any other residential area, even this street has its share of vegetable/fruit vendors, cycle rickshaws and few other hawkers. The Beat Officers on/off duty are typically seen at the "chai"-shop [tea shop] catering to the area, right at the spot where the accident took place. As a resident, I haven’t really had any problems with the hawkers/cycle rickshaw pullers. As regards the mishap, the reports don't mention whether the bus was at a fast speed. If that’s the case, then the accident is just like the kinds on any other road/lane and there isn't any specific thing about the lane or the hawkers or any other clutter contributing to it. Here, it’s mentioned that the kid (17) was riding the bike taking his sister (13) to the school and seemingly couldn't tackle a hawker and slipped and was crushed under the mini-bus. Now, if the bus was at a controllable distance or speeding, then the driver of the bus is at fault. If it wasn’t then I am not sure, if the driver of the bus was really guilty.

Now this terrible incident throws up the state of utter civic-Non-sense and blatant violation of law and order:
- Illegal Shops in Residences
- Illegal Parking Chaos
- Public Drinking Practices
- Pan/Cigarette shops within 100 yards of a school
- Underage driver (the kid)
- We still don’t know much about the driver of the mini-bus and the vehicle’s status.
- Everything under the nose of Law Enforcers.

All the above are taking place within a km from the MLA’s residence and a km distance from the Police Station HQ.

Who is to be blamed for the accident ?

Finally the action taken by the authorities : The fruit vendor, the chai (tea) shop and the cycle richshaws have been removed for the time being and that would be predictably for a week or so.

My heartfelt condolences to the family of the two kids. Nobody deserves such a fate.

Do we really need 2 "martyrs" for every 10 sq.m space to be cleared off daily wage-earners by the authorities for 10 odd days. What could be more stupefying than this ???