Thisis further to ‘Delhi building collapse was waiting to happen’ (THI Sept 9). The Satya Niketan building collapse in the national capital that has been the PG for students studying in the Delhi University was so pathetic to watch which proved to be a virtual death trap for students with big expectations to make big in life. Similar incidents of fire accidents and building collapse are happening in Delhi NCR, resulting in no follow up action being taken to prevent such tragedies from happening. It is reported that ten or more buildings have been earmarked for demolition in the area, which is a positive development. Meanwhile, there must be a thorough check of PGs in Delhi to assess their structural health, and other safety precautions. The vulnerable ones must be declared unsafe. The Delhi University, on its part, must create more hostel accommodations for students whose numbers are growing every year.

K R Parvathy, Mysuru

Preventive measures must be the norm

Apropos ‘Delhi building collapse was waiting to happen’, the Satya Niketan tragedy is painfully predictable, and the response is equally predictable. Politicians express shock, officials promise inquiries, FIRs are filed, and then everyone moves on until the next tragedy. This pattern has repeated itself far too many times. The heart of the problem is that urban governance remains a low priority for our leaders, who are busy with populist schemes and emotive distractions. Illegal constructions flourish, often with the tacit approval of those in power. We cannot keep treating safety as an afterthought. What we need is continuous enforcement, transparent building approvals, regular structural audits, and real accountability for officials and politicians who allow violations. Students and citizens deserve better than a system that only acts after lives are lost. Prevention must finally become the norm.

K Chidanand Kumar, Bengaluru

Building safety is a collective responsibility

Thisrefers to “Delhi building collapse was waiting to happen”. Building safety cannot be ensured by municipal officials alone. Residents, tenants, landlords and local associations also have an important role in identifying warning signs such as cracks, water seepage, unauthorised extensions and damaged structural members. Delhi could establish a simple complaint system through which photographs and location details can be submitted and tracked until action is taken. Municipal authorities should publish inspection outcomes and deadlines for corrective measures. Public awareness programmes can also help residents understand when a building requires professional assessment. Such participation would make safety a continuous community responsibility rather than a matter left entirely to government agencies. Prevention becomes more effective when citizens can see that their complaints lead to timely action.

S P Suganya Devi, Coimbatore

Trafficking menace not among govt priorities

The‘Silent auction of innocence’ (THI Sept 9) piece by Nomula Srinivas Rao reflects a system that has accepted its failure. Traffickers move children across states, while the rescued victims are dumped into underfunded shelters, and often re-trafficked. If the state can build surveillance for elections, it can trace missing children. The problem is not technology, but non-prioritisation. Until we have real legislation, inter-state data sharing, and proper support, we are tending to look the other way.

Aayush Shandilya, Dhenkanal