- Make no mistake, something is definitely wrong prima facie vis-à-vis the country’s disaster management and preparedness to present an effective counter to unforeseen eventualities occurring with or without warning. Although the country’s premier agency National Disaster Management Authority is headed by no less than the Prime Minister himself, there are certain times when the people seeking relief and rescue owing to natural disasters are made to sweat out to receive succor expeditiously. I am in no way questioning the bravery, dare-devilry, commitment, or for that matter professional integrity of rescue personnel who risk their lives to ensure people struck courtesy disasters are saved on a war footing.
PC: Sentinel Digital Desk
- Instances abound when personnel from the Disaster Forces have essayed incredible roles. The National Disaster Response Force in conjunction with respective State Disaster Response Forces are rendering yeomen services whenever cyclones, cloudbursts, earthquakes, fire incidents, and Tsunamis alongside some such other natural disasters have made life difficult for the public. A big salute to them. However, the moot point to ponder over here is why an impression never fails to garner traction that we are always found wanting in our preparedness with precision like execution solidly based on winsome modern strategies in line with the international standards resulting in quick counteraction on the ground.
- The havoc left behind by the cyclonic storm Tauktae on few states is nothing short of disastrous. The entire country is witness to dramatic search and rescue operations involving five navy ships, P8I maritime surveillance aircraft, Chetak, and Sea King helicopters launched after the sinking of barge P-305 brought stories of hope and despondency in equal measures. Mind you, a total of 261 personnel were on board when P-305 sank around 70km from Mumbai on Monday night. Thankfully, 186 survivors were rescued, and horrendously, several bodies were also found while the search went on. It is spine-chilling to imagine how the navy was able to rescue people from the stormy sea with waves as high as 8-10 meters.
PC: ANI
- Consider for a moment how Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) vessels with more than 600 people on board found themselves stranded at sea during a cyclone even after a high alert had been sounded out about the cyclone since May 11. Note that there was enough time for the vessels to bring to safety which was grossly ignored. Sickening reports of rescue equipment like life rafts were not functional raises serious questions about the evident lack of due diligence in observing standard guidelines. No surprise to see both the ONGC and Afcons, the contractor that was operating the barges, have tried to pass on the blame. The Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry should ensure of accountability for the tragedy.
- People in the know would have noticed a repeated pattern visible in other sectors with respect to workplace and institutional safety as demonstrated by the P-305 barge and of course, several fire incidents at hospitals in recent months to residential buildings collapsing all too frequently and with catastrophic consequences. The usual cause is definite lackadaisical attitude towards disaster preparedness and most egregiously, those responsible cutting corners citing irrational reasons. The country and its responsible stakeholders should develop attitudinal and cultural change towards taking safety guidelines very seriously.
