In the Al Shuwaiheen area of Sharjah there is a sprawling furniture market. It has a high footfall by customers and thus brightly lit with the help of the shop lights during market time, up to midnight. But what baffles us is that there are no street lights functional in this area for many months. All the lights are from shops only.
The absence of street lights leaves the area in darkness, especially during the early morning. As it is a residential area, many students have to catch the school buses early in the morning. They feel it is quite risky due to the darkness. Young children find it unsafe to stand in sheer darkness and wait for the bus. Additionally, it is very difficult for the bus drivers to spot the children despite the headlights. As the weather is chilly, children wear dark cardigans. My father regularly uses the road (seen in photograph) and has to be careful because many students or their mothers suddenly appear on the road to catch school buses.
A local resident of the area Bhavna Chandnani said: “It is pitch dark in the morning around 6am. My son is in high school and I still don’t take any chances and make it a point to drop him to the school bus pickup point and wait till the bus comes. There is a street light on this road. If it is lit, it will be enough and the problem will be solved.”
I request the relevant authorities to arrange for proper lighting in order to ensure safety and security of the local residents.
The reader is a student based in Sharjah.
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