Reading about the Alhamra tragedy that resulted in the death of three girls’ on account of a stampede with overcrowding at the end of a show, I am prompted to ask a few questions based on the reports:
Why was only one exit available for so many to move out? Were there any other emergency exits which particularly large public buildings must have? Was a fire drill ever carried out? Will those responsible ever be punished? Overcrowding caused many deaths in a school children’s bus near Kalar Kahar not so long ago.
Even if punishments are awarded it in no way will lead to preventive measures to avoid unnecessary loss of life. Have penal or curative measures been applied ever to improve the system? Certainly not. Almost all catastrophes on examination lead to finding a series of self-reinforcing deviations from sensible practice.
MASOOD HASAN
Lahore
