Kathmandu— Tragedies struck government hospitals in India and Pakistan this week, with fires claiming the lives of three newborns in Amravati, Maharashtra, and fourteen in Islamabad. While the immediate causes differed – a faulty ventilator in India and an exploding air conditioner in Pakistan – both incidents revealed strikingly similar failings: delayed rescue responses, hampered evacuations due to inadequate fire safety measures, and predictable political reactions centered on inquiries and compensation rather than preventative action. These events underscore a disturbing reality that vulnerable citizens’ lives are routinely devalued in both nations.

Recurring Pattern of Preventable Loss

Over the past 26 years, the author has reported on numerous hospital fires in India and Pakistan resulting in significant loss of life, with no discernible improvement in safety regulations or enforcement. Past incidents, such as the 2011 AMRI Hospital fire in India which killed 89 people and a 2012 Lahore Services Hospital fire that claimed ten newborns, have yielded no convictions or meaningful change. A similar tragedy occurred at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital in Pakistan this year, with eleven infants dying in a fire.

Political Choices Over Public Welfare

The fires did not occur in remote areas but within the wealthiest state of India and the capital city of Pakistan, indicating that these tragedies are rooted in government priorities. The author argues that both nations consistently prioritize military spending and diplomatic posturing over the safety and well-being of their citizens, sacrificing lives to fire with alarming frequency. This is not a matter of lacking resources but rather a deliberate political choice.

A Failure of Basic Governance

The repeated incidents raise fundamental questions about the functioning of India’s and Pakistan’s political systems, judiciaries, newsrooms, and civil societies. The author contends that these democracies prioritize certain segments of society while neglecting the most vulnerable—the poor, the sick, and those without power. Both countries have spent decades emphasizing security from each other, but citizens face a greater threat from their own governments’ negligence.

Beyond Independence Day Rhetoric

Despite celebrating 79 years of independence and touting their rich histories and cultures, both India and Pakistan are accused of governing with ‘careless barbarity.’ The author suggests that these nations possess the trappings of democracy but fail to deliver basic safety measures for their citizens. They demand sacrifice from their people without providing reciprocal protection or expecting accountability from those in power.

The recent fires serve as a stark reminder of systemic failures and raise urgent questions about government priorities, demanding more than just inquiries and compensation—they require fundamental changes in how these nations value the lives of their citizens.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.