Any natural or man-made disaster anywhere in the world is tragic; but when such calamities strike near and dear ones, it comes as a great shock.
Thus the devastating earthquake in Nepal, where I was present even a month earlier as a tourist, has indeed broken my heart. The charming city of Kathmandu, with the awe-inspiring temples of Durbar Square, in absolute ruins is indeed a sorry sight. But much greater tragedy remains the plight of the ordinary innocent Nepali brothers and sisters whose warmth, smile, dignified behaviour and cooperative spirit made our Nepal trip such an enjoyable one. Thousands have left this world despite no fault of them.
The whole international community will certainly assist Nepal in this hour of crisis both in physical and economic terms. It is hoped that the authorities in Nepal will also ensure that all injured get properly treated, shelter-less get rehabilitated and the families of the departed ones get adequately compensated financially so that they can continue with their lives.
India also deserves congratulations for generously lending its helping hand to Nepal in their hour of crisis despite itself getting affected by the very same earthquake with loss of properties and more than 50 precious lives. Instead of engaging in mere lip service, India has rendered the adage ‘A friend in need is friend indeed’ into practical reality. It is hoped that the affected people and family members of the deceased in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal will also be provided adequate relief and properly compensated and rehabilitated.
Science or technological progress has not yet succeeded in defeating the forces of nature like earthquakes, tsunamis or volcanic eruptions. However the impact can be certainly lessened a bit by proper planning. In this regard the Indian sub-continent can draw inspiration from Japan which has succeeded in reducing drastically the impact of earthquakes through placement of scientific infrastructure, regular drills and by educating the common citizens about the precautions to be taken during trembling of the earth.
