Mumbai Vs New Orleans

This was the sign outside one of the many shops in New Orleans –

“Don’t try. I am sleeping inside with a big dog, ugly wife, 2 shot guns and a big sledge hammer.”

This pretty much sums up the situation in the hurricane ravaged New Orleans. The total failure of civic authorities in a country like the United States is shocking. Considering the fact that New Orleans is a very small city when compared to Mumbai, but I could not stop myself from making comparisons between the flood ravaged Mumbai and New Orleans.

Mumbai has a population of 1.26 Crores, whereas New Orleans is inhabited by 43 lakh people, but the situation after the natural disasters in both the places were in absolute contrast when comparing the populations.

The situation was the same in both the places, every nook and corner of the towns were flooded with water. People could not venture outside and life had come to a complete standstill. The comparisons between the two places stop here.

In Mumbai, as news started pouring in, there were news about how people helped each other, shared food, set up make shift tents to harbour people who were rendered homeless. There were stories as to how young men had risked their lives to save people stuck in buses and flats. There were stories of people standing outside their homes, giving whatever possible to the needy – be it food, clothing or shelter.

New Orleans has scripted a different picture. After the ravaging by nature, it was the turn of the people to ravage each other. There were cases of looting, arson and rape. Armed gangs took over the town, killing people to preserve themselves.

Survival of oneself was of utmost concern, and people were ready to shoot and kill others for this cause. There were not many cases where people had formed groups to help each other or to try and collectively face the major hurdle.

Another shocking news was that the first airdrop of food, water and medicines took place after 2 days. The government was found totally unprepared and their entire mechanism failed.

Equally shocking was the scene were people were seen scrambling for food dropped by the civic agencies. I was left wondering whether the footages were from The United States of America or some African country.

The mismanagement of the situation has led me to believe that Compassion for fellow beings is something that is lacking in the people. They came out as extremely selfish and uncivilized.

America…. There’s a lot you can learn from India!!!!