Kolkata flyover collapse: CM and her VVIP troops should stay away from accident spot

Watching the painful scenes on TV at the site of the collapse of the Vivekananda Road flyover in Kolkata, certain points hit you in the face. [caption id=“attachment_2705264” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Kolkata bridge collapse. Screengrab from CNN IBN[/caption] We really don’t have a blueprint for a disaster rescue. It is all so ad hoc. Rubbernecking seems to be the order of the day. The first thing one does is cordon off the area from civilian intrusion. It is like a mela out there with everyone and his uncle offering advice. In such a situation, there is very slow progress. Then we have the VIPs. The mayor arrived with an entourage of 30 hangers-on but truth be told, what the hell can the mayor do? Soon after the incident, I heard that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is ‘rushing’ to the spot. For what? She should stay away and let the professionals take over. In this crowded locality (which area in Kolkata is not crowded?), the biggest hindrance to the rescue of what could be a few hundred people under the debris would be people who have gathered around the place. The fire service, the ambulances, the army and paramilitary forces can’t even find their way in. And the longer they are diverted from getting on with the operations, the more lives are at risk. It would be better if Mamata went on air and shrieked for order and issued a command that no unauthorized person would be allowed to enter the cordoned off area. Much rather the West Bengal government got organized than engage in these grandstanding visits that only cut a swathe through the ops and literally come in the way. There is nothing you can do there madam, except cause an unacceptable delay. You will be saving lives by staying away because first aid can reach them that much earlier if you are not around. The scary thought is that if these so-called VIPs come in to exploit disaster under the guise of concern and mess up everything, even Rahul Gandhi might find this site more attractive than the tedious and waning hobnobbing with students. All you people, stay away. That the victims do not need. At this moment there is no announcement of any plan for accommodating next of kin and families whose loved ones are buried under tonnes of concrete and steal. There is, as yet, no designated area for them to gather and as the news spread we are looking at a few thousand stressed out and grieving men, women and children looking for comfort and pouring into the area. Who will provide that facility? The parallel thing to do is establish a mobile and temporary morgue or several small tents where the civilian population can volunteer to help and medical aid is available. It is touching that the public is ready to help but getting in the way and helping can be pretty similar. They are not trained rescue teams and good intentions, while laudable, can only complicate matters. The blame game can also wait. For now the only priority is to bring them out alive.