‘Politics of Fame and Blame’ and Collective Failure in Handling Uttarakhand Disaster

The natural disaster that followed the cloud burst has caused unprecedented havoc in the mountain state of Uttarakhand in India has been the in center focus of news in the country and round the world. The holy places of Hindus, Sikhs and mystics and trekkers have been devastated, with never before natural disaster and deaths of humans and fauna.

The handling and management of the disaster has been dismal and shameful. Thanks to the India’s defense forces and the paramilitary organizations that at least the 110,00 pilgrims who were stranded in the freezing cold and rains without food, water or shelter have been rescued and treated with timely help and supplies.

The gravity of the problem has been worsened with the further torrential rains and bad weather that made the rescue work near impossible. In spite of all odd the pilgrims have been evacuated and the country is mourning about the deaths of at least 11000 people declared dead or missing (albeit the official figures are only about 3000 so far, that no one believes).

The failure of rehabilitation and rescue work for the local people and places was nearly forgotten for some time that caused undue hardships and further losses o the local people. The passing of the blame game is being played among the politicians, the federal and state governments, the interest groups, the civil society and so on. Each one has been trying to score the ‘brownie points’ over the dead bodies of the people and livestock.

In true sense, it has been a classic case of collective failure of handling the disaster of such magnitude. I don’t think even for a moment that one single agency or person can be called responsible for this poor handling and management. In spite of all attempts of political party in power and the opposition leaders and their followers, to malign the image of the other, the truth is they all have focused on their ‘politics of fame and blame’; and have indulged in mud-slinging on each other.
The politicians proved that they are most unreliable and irresponsible and avoidable people in such circumstances. There are ample occasions for politicking and partisan politics; and not over the graves of people they must understand or must be told in no unequivocal terms.

The civil administration must take some leaves out of the defense forces, both in terms of their commitments and efforts to handle the natural disasters of such magnitude. While the best of the engineers of the civil administration failed to make a single bridge (or repair the damaged ones)the unskilled operational staffs of the army and paramilitary made make-shift bridges and temporary structures in no time, with the help of the local populations. The Civil administration failed in all its function in the disaster management, though there were many unsung heroes among them who put their heart and soul in it.

I do hope that all states and central governments and the local bodies etc. (and the people) will have a lot to learn from this disaster in terms of managing and preparedness, as well as the duty towards the nation and fellow nationals.