by Rashmi Gangwar
Arecent incident from a high rise society of the city has raised many questions. A family who had lost their apartment keys approached their neighbours for assistance. The family asked for permission to cross the parapet that connects the balconies of both apartments, so they could climb up and unlock the doors. Just as the elderly resident was cautioning the family about how fragile these parapets are and that they shouldn’t be used for walking, the lady strolled to the parapet fearlessly and climbed to her apartment’s balcony. With God’s grace, nothing untoward happened to the lady but what if something unfortunate had happened? It could have been fatal as these parapets are made up of very light material. Car keys and house keys are the most frequently lost items for most of us, but instead of taking so much risk, the family would have called a locksmith to open the door or would have approached the maintenance department of the society.
These elevations that attach balcony to balcony in most apartments are constructed by the builders at certain floors at the edges of the building to give a good appearance. They are not designed to, carry loads or to walk through. Many incidents happened when these parapets toppled from the high levels into the sidewalks when inhabitants were out for their morning walks. A few residents have kept their heavy earthen planters and AC outdoor units on these parapets so that they can utilize their space on the balcony without thinking about how critical it is to put heavy weight on them.
Considering the above incident, high-rise buildings must have necessary safety standards, the right tools and evacuation procedures. Forgetting stuff like keys is common for many of us. In case of loss of keys, society maintenance should provide some kind of safety equipment like safety belts with trained staff to approach the balcony instead of putting lives at risk.
The majority of cities in India are developing vertically. These high-rise buildings may have a nice appearance, but there are also certain benefits and drawbacks. They look very pleasant as they give a remarkable view, a better living experience, and a sense of safety and security, even though life in these superstructures is not easy as it seems.
