An illegal, flooded “rat-hole” mine at Ksan in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills and 15 miners trapped in it. This should have been ground-zero from the day the incident occurred for disaster management teams and anyone who had the resources to help.

Instead it remained a blindspot for nearly two weeks on the national conscience before this news assumed the significance and the visibility it deserved. Over the weekend, the Indian Navy, Air Force, fire fighters, and other public and private sector representatives arrived with rescue teams and pumps. A development that would have, normally, held out much hope for the miners’ families that the end to their ordeal was nigh. But in this case, hope is tinged with sadness because of the massive delay in pulling together a line of action. Life ebbs with every delay to get to the miners.

In contrast is the rescue of 12 children from a Thailand cave this year. Divers and resources from across the world, including India, came together to get them out alive. And the riveting rescue down to the last child was followed by many across the world.

Meghalaya’s mine disaster instead saw the shameful call of the rescue being called off for want of a high-powered pump. And that, in a country with funds and resources to build massive statues to honour its illustrious. Tardy response and rescue efforts aside, there’s also the question of social responsibility. If a company has the equipment to help, could it have stepped in earlier? Companies should be encouraged to respond to disasters, especially if they have the expertise to help. Besides getting the good-will of those rescued, it also builds trust in the society. But if rescue efforts are mired instead in requisitions and red-tape, the outcome is a tragedy like the one unfolding in Meghalaya. The government, corporate India and the media are culpable for not playing their part and in time.

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