GHMC--An Alice in Hyderabad's Wonderland

Hyderabad is suddenly being seen as the city of disasters by some of our prophets of doom. Yes, there have been tragic bomb blasts at Mecca Masjid on May 18 and at Lumbini Park and Gokul Chaat, three months later. Both the Mecca Masjid blast and the Lumbini Park blast could possibly have been averted with some vigilance, screening and precautionary measures. But, as always, we seem to be growing wise after the event. Public places now are more sensitive to security, which is a good thing.

The other tragedy that shook us up was the collapse of a section of the flyover near Panjagutta for which there are simply no excuses. The contractor, the consultant, GHMC and all the other government agencies are equally responsible for the death of Ankit Aurora, young techie whose life has been rudely cut short, and that of Ramu, a supporter of a politician, from Armoor. Disaster management is an expression our officials have not heard of. There is no nodal disaster management agency it appears, equipped with gas cutters and other emergency relief equipment. Of course, the officials were there to give sound 'bites' to tv cameras, sounding more like politicians than men on the job responsible for both the disaster and its relief operations. How else can one explain their irresponsibility in blaming 'the unprecended rain' for the flyover collapse? It rained for an hour dammit--I live about a mile away from the blessed flyover: I should know. Of course, a 'wizened' GHMC Commissioner clarified the next day that by 'unprecedented' rain was meant 'the quantum of rain in an hour, a single hour, that is.' Oh really! Give us a break Mr. Sarma! Like millions of other Hyderabadiz I was born in this city and have lived here all my life and have seen enough of 'unprecedented rain'. The GHMC and everybody else told the citizens of Hyderabad that this flyover and others being built along with this elsewhere in the city, were 'quake-proof' and 'terror-proof'. They're telling us now that they aren't even 'shower-proof'! GHMC is the new Alice in Hyderabad's Wonderland. Welcome to 'Greater' Hyderabad!

Hyd flyover collapse: 30 feared killed

Murder or Suicide?
After the bombs in Hyderabad, we all might have talked about the fear of terrorist attacks and unsafe home one more time. This was followed by the collapse of an under-construction flyover due to heavy rains. continue reading
Digging by Water Board led to collapse of scaffolding?
SAFETY CONCERNS: The spans of the Punjagutta flyover under construction that collapsed on Sunday after heavy rain. continue reading




Hyderabad Flyover Collapse Slide show

Accountability and governance

What is perhaps most striking in Hyderabad over the last few years, is the utter apathy of officialdom and the complete absence of accountability. Be it the bomb blasts, day to day civic problems or any form of interaction with the bureaucracy, this indifference, smugness and complacency, is all too obvious. The impact of this on the life of the city is evident--chaos passes for order and one doesn't require the IQ of an Edison or Einstein to see this. From a much sought-after destination and happening city some years ago, Hyderabad is fast losing its pre-eminence. If some semblance of governance is not restored soon, we'll slip back to the anarchic past in fast track.

The spirit of Hyderabad

‘No matter what we will stand together’ Citizens Take

"One thing that is important to know about Hyderabad is the spirit of the city. Initially people were disturbed by the two events but then Hyderabadis are known for their cool kind of perspective to life. The evening after the blasts, people returned.... The Hindu, Aug 30, 2007

Ram-Rahim fight terror after blasts

If disrupting the life of the city was what our 'friends' across the border wanted, they failed miserably in achieving their aim.

Hyderabad is certainly more resilient than they thought it was. It's back on its feet, mourning for the dead, but dealing with the complexities of daily life.
Gone are the days when a single incident could rip the social fabric of the city apart. Hyderabad is stronger than some of our 'brothers' across the border think. It has emerged stronger than before from the recent series of blasts.
'dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil meiN hai'......

Life after the blasts....

Will Terror Threaten India's Economy?, Aug. 27, 2007 By MADHUR SINGH, Time Magazine

Hyderabad expatriates shrug off role of external forces
By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter, Gulf News
Published: August 26, 2007, 23:40

Terror 'outsourced' in India, By Siddharth Srivastava, Asia Times

India finds unity in terror, By Sreeram Chaulia, Asia Times

Hyderabad has bounced back, as our news channels and papers remind us. But, the eerie sense of unease that follows a tragedy of this scale, hangs over the city like a dark cloud. Public places are best avoided feel most people, telling their children not to frequent local hotspots. How could the police not screen visitors at the Lumbini Park after a warning from central Intelligence that another round of blasts could take place? Why was the security of the park given to a private agency, which had no screening mechanism in place? These are questions Hyderabadis are asking, knowing what answers to expect from politicians.
We have a low-key raksha bandhan today, marred by the grim background of death and suffering of innocent victims.

Hyderabad mourns again!

Barely 3 months after the Mecca Masjid blast, the city has been rocked by serial blasts killing many more this time, in 2 crowded places--the Gokul Chaat Bhandar in Koti and Lumbini Park. Hyderabad mourns the dead and the injured yet again. Another black day. Another mindless act. Another trail of grief, destruction, loss, suspicion and blame.

See more details:

Hyderabad—time for accountability

36 killed, 40 hurt as 2 blasts hit Hyderabad

Google News: image version

HYDERABAD BOMB BLAST AT LUMBINI PARK Video Google

Bottomline: Ishwar Allah Tere Jahan Mein Nafrat Kyoon Hai - 1947 Earth - [Azgar Khan]



Ishwar Allah Tere Jahan Mein
Nafrat Kyoon Hai, Jung Hai Kyoon
Tera Dil To, Itna Bada Hai
Insaan Ka Dil Tang Hai Kyoon

Ishwar Allah, Tere Jahan Mein
Nafrat Kyoon Hai, Jung Hai Kyoon
Tera Dil To, Itna Bada Hai
Insaan Ka Dil Tang Hai Kyoon

Kadam Kadam Par Sarhad Kyoon Hai
Saari Zameen Jo Teri Hai
Suraj Ke Pherey Karti Hai
Phir Kyoon Itni Andheri Hai
Is Duniya Ke Daaman Par
Insaan Ke Lahoo Ka Rang Hai Kyoon source: Ibibo

Ishwar Allah Tere Jahan Mein
Singer: Chorus - 1947 Earth
Brought to you by: Azgar Khan

Shabana Azmi's Voice: 250 years of the British empire ended in 1947, but whats there to show for it? except the country divided, the massacres and kidnappings, vendettas and more violence, was it all worth it?

50 years have gone by since I betrayed my Aaya, some say she married Ice Candy Wala, some say they saw her in a brothel in Lahore, others that they saw her in Amritsar. But I never saw her again.

That day 1947 when I lost Aaya, I lost a large part of myself.