The opening words to the song immortalizing Chicago’s great fire.
Last night in Bandra (where I live) there was a huge fire. Apparently there were 26 fire trucks and 12 water tanks. It was only two miles from my home, in a slum neighborhood that I drive past each day on the way to teach. In India, expensive homes sit right next to every slum so it sounds like both houses and slum shanties were burned. The articles talked about houses and slums, at least.
It just so happens I was not in the city last night. I’ve been home when they are burning trash (there doesn't seem to be any anti-disgusting laws here), and the smell is horrific. I can’t imagine how bad this must have been- sounds, sights.
The fire started (so they suppose in one of the news articles) when five gas cylinders exploded. It was apparently aided by a strong wind. It lasted for six hours, and so far, eleven people have been injured, although the newspapers say that probably many people might have been trapped within the slums.
The other, more popular theory is that building developers started the fire. It is a piece of prime real estate, and, if I’ve been reading the articles correctly, was scheduled for being demolished and built upon in a few months/years/some point in the future (you can’t really nail down deadlines in this country). Apparently the same thing happened two years ago, and the fire was believed to be started by the developers then, too.
Well, if that is true, it is absolutely disgusting. I just don’t even know how to react to such ideas. People who already had nothing losing more. 2000 people who lost their homes. Bad enough if it is an accident, but if it was planned? How can people be so heartless?
For some reason, it seems like tragedies seem easier to ignore when there are many numbers of faceless people hurt, rather than just one face to focus on and pity. So here is your one face- the female child star of slumdog millionaire. She still lived there with her family. She lost everything- her photographs and film memorabilia, at least. Her money is in a trust she can't access until she is an adult.
The newspapers in India have of course been reporting the story. What struck me as odd was how many of the comments by people were negative- people frustrated that the articles focused on this one girl, rather than the overall tragedy. But I think people care more when they have a face to put with it. It is just human nature to care more about people we know than we don’t know… So I don't necessarily think it was a wrong or bad thing to discuss that girl.
Anyhow, I know it is short, and not too fun, but I just wanted to share this since it was so very close to my home, and so awful to think about.
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