We don't know those folks. We feel some sadness, but also we're helpless to change their circumstances substantially. So we might talk about it, pray about it once or twice, maybe even send a few dollars for relief, but generally in a few days, we forget about it. Jesus hears what they are really saying. They believe in a God of justice.
Bad things happen to bad people.
The Galileans must have done something to deserve it. That's what they want him to confirm. That is their protection because they believe themselves innocent. In both cases Jesus doesn't answer the age old question of why bad things happen to good people. In both cases he refuses to agree with their assumption that people must somehow deserve whatever tragedy befalls them or that God causes these bad things to happen to people.