HEART 2 HEART BY ETHEL DA COSTA
Does life come cheap in Goa?
Don't we automatically follow these rules abroad? So, why a fuss in our own country? Why can't we get people sensitive? But, this is Goa you see? And life these days comes at a low premium.
*** The entire article makes riveting reading but I will focus on just one aspect - traffic lights.
Why are traffic lights not erected in Goa? They exist in other parts of India but my enquiries have met with "silly" replies:
a. "Goans are not used to them."
b. "The volume of traffic does not warrant it"
c. "Goa does not have the electronic sophistication to implement traffic signals"
d. "Traffic signals waste time by making drivers stop"
Yes, it is sickening to be a witness to accidents that could easily have been avoided if traffic signals had to be installed. Recently I was driving along the NH17 behind a lorry carrying iron ore. Because we were approaching the Colvale junction I did not attempt to overtake the lorry. However an ice-cream seller on a cycle turned into the path of the lorry and was sent flying across the middle of the road, his body shaking spasmodically and blood oozing from his mouth.
I stopped but the other vehicles made a detour around the body. My mobile phone was out of range so I ran to the petrol station about 50 metres away. The attendants there would not do anything themselves but asked me to call from the adjacent STD booth. I went there but did not know the number for emergency services or directory enquiries. The man operating the booth feigned ignorance and there was no telephone directory available.
I saw a well dressed man approaching so I asked him. He told me the emergency number. I went to make the call but he blocked my path saying he had got to the booth first. I pointed out to him what was happening across the road but he was unmoved. I had to give up after about three minutes as he was discussing minute arrangements about a Christmas party.
I returned to the scene of the accident. Another iron ore truck had stopped and they had taken the body away. A large ugly crowd had gathered meanwhile around my wife and car. There were convinced that I was the cause of the death of a popular local man and they wanted to "teach me a lesson." Fortunately one of the crowd had witnessed the accident and placated the mob. He urged me to drive away from the scene as he physically held the crowd back. I did so!
That experience shook me and I am not certain if I would stop again in a similar situation.
Eddie Fernandes 1 Onslow Gardens London, UK
