Everything is just fine

Representational image. Pic/iStock

We have a few months to go, but it felt like the right time to take stock of what the year has been like given that we're closer to 2026 than ever. I feel as if there's been a fair amount of pessimism lately, and criticism about the fact that life appears to be harder than ever even though ten years have passed since we were promised Better Days.

I know things didn't get off to a great start, what with the stampede in January that may or may not have claimed the lives of 30 people. I mention facts and figures with disclaimers these days because we live in a time when things happening before our eyes may be disputed by an official press release within 24 hours. Facts are not facts, remember? So, while the year may have begun with tragedy, it isn't an indication of the fact that crowd management is a problem in this country. Stampedes may happen more often than any of us would like them to, but they are acts of God and should be treated as such.

There was a train accident that month, too, in Jalgaon district, but I like to think we are immune to issues with trains by now. Our ministers have been posting photographs and reels related to rail safety on Instagram, and if that doesn't reassure us that trains are safe, little else will.

February was also bad. Eighteen people were reportedly killed at a railway station in Delhi on the 15th, and anyone who has travelled by train anywhere in the country will know how and why that could have happened. As I just pointed out though, the minister says that things are great, and I suggest we believe him instead of our eyes and ears. Just because platforms are dangerous doesn't mean we have a problem with overcrowding or poor safety standards.

Then, a tunnel collapsed that month, in Telangana, trapping engineers and labourers, but I refuse to accept the possibility that construction work in India is hazardous in any way. So many labourers have hard hats these days, and I'm told some even have access to drinking water and portable toilets at construction sites. If that doesn't show how India is marching towards a trillion-dollar economy, what will?

In April, an explosion at a warehouse that was manufacturing fireworks killed 21 people. The warehouse had no valid license, apparently, and was not supposed to be in business. Dangerous chemicals were also being treated carelessly, but this doesn't mean we should worry. Just because businesses can function without licences doesn't mean the government isn't concerned about the breaking or bending of rules. Just because chemicals are handled casually all around us doesn't mean we should worry about hidden dangers.

It was also a horrible month for national security, given the attack on tourists by armed terrorists near Pahalgam. Twenty-six civilians were killed, and I have no doubt we will receive information on what action was taken by the government any day now. It hasn't happened yet, but that's probably because there are election rallies to be planned for, after which these lapses in security will undoubtedly be taken very seriously.

Speaking of building regulations after what occurred in April, there was also an incident in May, this time in Hyderabad, when a fire broke out in an old building and claimed the lives of 17 members of a single family. Does this mean our buildings aren't monitored by the authorities? I'm pretty sure they are, even if we don't see them around often.

June wasn't particularly pleasant either, what with the crush outside a cricket stadium that killed 11 people, and the collapse of a bridge in Pune that caused the deaths of four and injured 51. There were strong words issued by the government regarding the incident outside the stadium, and I suppose that report on bridges in urgent need of attention across the country will soon become a priority. It's only a matter of time before we will be able to walk through crowds or cross a bridge without worrying about dying. I'm sure these are common problems for people the world over.

The last thing on my mind, for now, is air safety, following the tragedy at Ahmedabad and the subsequent cancellations of other flights that may or may not point to some lapses.

The government hasn't said this yet, but I'm pretty sure it's still safe to fly. Everything is just fine.

When he isn't ranting about all things Mumbai, Lindsay Pereira can be almost sweet. He tweets @lindsaypereira

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