Alienation is eating into the soul of the city, slowly but surely.

Known for caring nature, a section of Patnaites developed cold feet on Sunday evening when 47-year-old Shakuntala Devi was stabbed by her relative on a street in the Postal Park area. None bothered to intervene and save her. Nor anybody took her to a hospital, barely 2km away, after her throat was slit. By the time police reached, she was dead like young Reema Gupta passed away bleeding on street three years ago — on July 16, 2010.

A student of St Xavier’s High School, Reema was crossing the road on the fateful day when a speeding city bus crushed her and sped away. “The bleeding girl shrieked for help for more than 10 minutes, but onlookers stood silently. Vehicles passed by her but none stopped to take her to Patna Medical College and Hospital, less than 2km from the spot,” N.K. Sinha, a government employee living in Patna for years, recalled.

Three years on, Shakuntala saw the inhumane face of the city. The police are yet to arrest her murderer, Ranjay Kumar, but are shocked over the residents’ temperament.

“The street (Postal Park) on which Shakuntala Devi was murdered on Sunday evening always remains busy, particularly in the evening. There is a vegetable market in the vicinity too. There are several private hospitals, including Mahavir Arogya Sansthan, within 2km from the spot. The man slit the throat of the woman in a crowded place, but shockingly, nobody tried to stop him. Also, the victim was not rushed to any of the hospitals, nor the police were informed. A person whom I know informed me about the incident over the phone. We reached the spot around 15 minutes after the incident and woman was dead by then,” an officer of Kankerbagh police station told The Telegraph on Monday.

Several residents attributed the coldness of onlookers to the cosmopolitan culture creeping into the city. Retired postal department official Ashwini Singh (75) said: “Things have changed in Patna in the past few years, maybe because of modernisation. People have become self-centred. Now, most people do not have any emotion and compassion like Delhites.”

Psychologist Binda Singh agreed.

“The cosmopolitan culture has spread in the city over the past few years. There has been a steep rise in the number of apartments and most people remain confined to their home without even knowing their immediate neighbours. The people of the city now love to live within themselves and their families. Even children are taught not to mix with others and mind their own business. Thus, there is little emotion left for others. Around 10 or 15 years ago, the society was more open and life was simpler.”

The change is not irreversible, believes Binda. “Charity begins at home. If moral values are inculcated in children, things will change for the better,” the psychologist told The Telegraph.

True, the people’s reaction was cold to a couple of incidents of late. But there are several instances of warmth as well. (See chart)

On Thursday, an autorickshaw driver became the face of the city’s humanity after one of his passengers’ gold chain was stolen by a co-passenger. He immediately slammed brakes and ran after the thief in the Patna City area. Onlookers joined him and the thief was caught. After the chain was recovered, the thief was handed over to police.

Long live humanity.

compassion & apathy

Humane face
Chain recovery
Date: July 11, 2013
A co-passenger snatched chain of a woman travelling in an autorickshaw, got off the vehicle and started running in the Patna City area. The auto driver stopped his vehicle and chased the thief. Onlookers joined him and the thief was caught. After the chain was recovered, he was handed over to police

Teaser tamed
Date: September 5, 2012
A youth aged around 23 years misbehaved with a schoolgirl on a street near a vegetable market in Patna City under Chowk police station. After the victim raised an alarm, people intercepted the youth, gave him a thrashing and handed him over to police

Flip side
She bled alone
Date: July 16, 2010
A minibus hit 17-year-old Reema Gupta, a student of St Xavier’s High School, and fled. For more than 10 minutes, people watched her bleeding profusely. Vehicles passed by her but none stopped to take her to hospital. By the time police reached, she died

Tease trauma
Date: November 26, 2011
A girl was harassed and beaten up
by three youths at the busy Hartali Mor. The bystanders and passersby did not react. Two cops of Quick Mobile Service came to her rescue and arrested two tormentors