At first, I couldn't believe it. I just thought that the news channels - always on the lookout for the next 'breaking news' - are blowing it all out of proportion. How I wish that was the case! Unfortunately, it wasn't. As the scale of the widespread devastation and loss of human lives became clear, it felt as if someone had knocked the wind out of me. On one hand, there were instances of the commendable job done by the Army, the Air Force and Indo Tibetan Border Police in rescuing the stranded pilgrims. And on the other, there were disturbing reports of people cheating the distressed tourists by charging exorbitant amounts for food and water. How can one human being do this to another? Have we, as a society, stooped to such a low level? Whatever happened to our slogans of 'Atithi Devo Bhavah' - treat the guest as God? Is there no hope for us as a country? As an ethnicity? As human beings? I wouldn't want to think so.
Added to this is the trauma of those who couldn't be saved or worse, couldn't even be located. I have always believed that the right to be given last rites as per one's faith is one of the most basic of human rights - not for any grandiose ideas of Moksha but for the simple idea of treating the dead body with respect. It hurts to think of so many who were deprived of that right. I can't even begin to imagine what their near and dear ones must be going through. :-(
But as I read through the news, I wonder, what, if any, lessons have we learnt from this tragedy? And if those in the authority are formulating any plans to avoid the recurrence of the same anywhere in the country. A few things immediately come to mind:
1. Put in place a compulsory registration process for all those who come for the annual pilgrimage - Name, address, age, contact details of pilgrim and of close relatives, information about known ailments and medications taken, blood group, photo and prominent identification marks on body. If anyone complains about it, make it categorically clear that if this is not done, the government won't be in a position to help the pilgrim, if he or she were to get into any kind of trouble. If they want to be helped, they have to make this effort. Period.
2. As is done on some of the pilgrim routes, formulate a criteria for physical fitness and age (especially for elders and children). Those who fail it should not be allowed to embark on the journey.
3. Conduct a compulsory short course on survival and first aid for the pilgrims.
4. Train the locals on the same and keep a force of them on standbye in case of emergencies.
5. Have a mechanism in place whereby known locations can become distribution points for food, blankets and medicines - should need arise.
6. Work out an evacuation plan - priority should be given to children, old and invalid. Also an effort must be made to evacuate family members together so that they don't end up waiting for others and can leave for their hometowns.
7. Communication isn't something to work on after the tragedy strikes. So it is vital to keep backup Communication ready in case the primary infrastructure collapses. Establishing helplines manned by trained individuals must be an integral part of this.
8. A transport mechanism to carry the rescued pilgrims back to their home states is another vital area. Similar arrangement has to be made for transporting locals out of the danger zone.
A lot of places in the North are popular tourist spots and the same arrangements need to be made there as well.
It's high time we learn to value human lives!
Added to this is the trauma of those who couldn't be saved or worse, couldn't even be located. I have always believed that the right to be given last rites as per one's faith is one of the most basic of human rights - not for any grandiose ideas of Moksha but for the simple idea of treating the dead body with respect. It hurts to think of so many who were deprived of that right. I can't even begin to imagine what their near and dear ones must be going through. :-(
But as I read through the news, I wonder, what, if any, lessons have we learnt from this tragedy? And if those in the authority are formulating any plans to avoid the recurrence of the same anywhere in the country. A few things immediately come to mind:
1. Put in place a compulsory registration process for all those who come for the annual pilgrimage - Name, address, age, contact details of pilgrim and of close relatives, information about known ailments and medications taken, blood group, photo and prominent identification marks on body. If anyone complains about it, make it categorically clear that if this is not done, the government won't be in a position to help the pilgrim, if he or she were to get into any kind of trouble. If they want to be helped, they have to make this effort. Period.
2. As is done on some of the pilgrim routes, formulate a criteria for physical fitness and age (especially for elders and children). Those who fail it should not be allowed to embark on the journey.
3. Conduct a compulsory short course on survival and first aid for the pilgrims.
4. Train the locals on the same and keep a force of them on standbye in case of emergencies.
5. Have a mechanism in place whereby known locations can become distribution points for food, blankets and medicines - should need arise.
6. Work out an evacuation plan - priority should be given to children, old and invalid. Also an effort must be made to evacuate family members together so that they don't end up waiting for others and can leave for their hometowns.
7. Communication isn't something to work on after the tragedy strikes. So it is vital to keep backup Communication ready in case the primary infrastructure collapses. Establishing helplines manned by trained individuals must be an integral part of this.
8. A transport mechanism to carry the rescued pilgrims back to their home states is another vital area. Similar arrangement has to be made for transporting locals out of the danger zone.
A lot of places in the North are popular tourist spots and the same arrangements need to be made there as well.
It's high time we learn to value human lives!
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