Mumbai Wall Collapse: The Forgotten Lives of the Poor

Every monsoon in Mumbai, the city known as India’s financial capital, brings with it terrifying tales. From submerged railway tracks and flooded streets to open manholes waiting to trap unsuspecting pedestrians, the stories are all too familiar. But beneath the headlines lies a much grimmer reality—the impact on the poor, who live on the margins without any means of protection against nature’s fury.

These individuals, working tirelessly rain or shine, often find their fragile homes submerged or washed away. When tragedy strikes—like a wall collapsing or a fall into an open drain—their lives are reduced to mere statistics in the news. Reports might read “9 dead; 6 in an open drain,” and sometimes, the deceased have names. Yet, how often do we know more about them? Were they migrants? Did they have families somewhere in Mumbai? Often, the only thing remembered is a name, and sometimes not even that is accurate.

A Tragic Incident

Take the recent case of Satish Tirkey, a 35-year-old watchman who worked in Godrej Baug, a posh area in Malabar Hill. Satish lived in Simla Nagar, a locality that houses many people who serve those affluent residents, such as drivers and domestic helpers. On August 18, despite heavy rain, he ventured out to find taxis for the residents. Little did he know that the wall beside the road would collapse and bury him beneath stones and mud.

The moment the wall fell, residents heard a loud crash that rattled their balconies. They rushed out, only to see debris cascading as if from a broken dam. Eyewitnesses shared that before emergency services arrived, local residents—a group of young men—ran to try and rescue Satish. He was pulled from the rubble still breathing but sadly passed away on the way to the hospital.

The Aftermath

The wall, which had collapsed due to heavy rain, continued to cause havoc as water flowed uncontrollably. It took hours for the fire brigade and city workers to clear the road of debris, fix a stormwater drain, and tackle a nearby tree leaning precariously against the crumbled structure.

When media outlets reported on Satish’s death the next day, they noted various inaccuracies. His age was misreported, ranging from 55 to 75 years. Most stories echoed what the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had told reporters: that he had died due to a tree falling. Only a few mentioned the wall collapse, and no one bothered to investigate further. Who built that wall? Why did it fail?

Had it been a resident of Malabar Hill who suffered in the same way, the media would have ensured every detail was accurately reported, delving deep into the cause of death and the responsibilities involved. But, because Satish was a poor migrant worker, his story faded into a mere statistic, representing another “accidental death.”

Infrastructure Issues

The wall that fell held a garden meant for high-ranking officials living in Hyderabad Estate, an area once reserved for the Nizam of Hyderabad. At some stage, this wall was raised, increasing its height significantly. This alteration went unnoticed by the community, and the original structure was replaced with a taller, less robust version sporting barbed wire.

Alongside this wall, there was a reservoir with concrete checks that wasn’t equipped to manage excess water. Feedback from local residents about water leakage was ignored, as often happens with the voices of the marginalized.

Two days prior to the collapse, the residents had observed water gushing from various points in the wall. Instead of prompting immediate action, these warnings were dismissed as usual rain-related phenomena. When the wall eventually gave way, the flooding continued even after the rain stopped, leaving the community in disarray.

Call for Accountability

The lack of follow-up after such tragedies reflects the broader issue of indifference towards the lives of the poor. Their deaths are treated as unfortunate incidents with little emphasis on assigning responsibility. After the rain stops, and the water recedes, everything returns to “normal,” but that “normal” comes at a terrible cost—a life lost, families shattered, and a community left unprotected.

It’s crucial that we remember that behind every statistic lies a human story. Those who serve our cities deserve to be heard, and accountability must be demanded. Their lives should matter, not just in moments of tragedy, but every single day.

We need to take action, ensure proper infrastructure, and create awareness. The lives of the poor are just as valuable as anyone else’s, and it’s time we acknowledge this truth.

MumbaiFloods #WallCollapse #HumanRightsMatter #MumbaiMonsoon #PoorLivesMatter #Accountability #MumbaiDiaries #InfrastructureCrisis

Original Text – https://scroll.in/article/1085767/in-media-reports-on-a-wall-collapse-in-mumbai-evidence-that-the-lives-of-the-poor-dont-matter?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=public