Man-made disaster and natural disaster : Improve people to people contact
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: April 27 2016 -

One man-made, the other all about nature.

One which is within the control of mankind and other which is beyond the control of anyone.

And Manipur has seen more than its share of both in the last 365 days, though not with equal consequences. Natural disaster and man-made disaster.

This is what Manipur has experienced in the last 365 days and while questions have been raised on what steps the Government plans to take up to tackle the ferocity of natural disasters, no one seems to have raised any question on how to avoid man-made situations which are not healthy for anyone.

To recap a few instances, Manipur witnessed a disastrous landslide at Chandel district that killed at least 20 people and swept a number of houses away last year.

As if this was not enough, the fury of nature came back with all its might when a strong quake shook the State on January 3 this year killing at least 9 people and inflicting injuries to over 100 people.

A number of houses were also destroyed in the January 3 earthquake. It did not stop there for another quake shook the State on April 13 this year wherein over 30 people were injured.

In between there were cases of floods and landslides along many of the important routes connecting crucial places.

The latest in the case of nature’s fury negatively impacting the people were the strong gales, hailstorms and rains that left a trail of destruction just a few days back.

There is nothing much that can be done to forestall these natural disasters but questions have been raised on the unpreparedness of the Government in tackling these issues.

However it remains that not much thought has been raised on why Manipur seems to be literally sitting on a keg of man-made disaster.

Just recall the Mayang Imphal incident a few days back when loose talks and rumours did the round and threatened to pitch one set of people against the other.

This incident was disturbing but equally worrying is the point that no one seems to have raised any question against such a mindset.

Fortunate that the situation did not go out of hand, but disturbing to note that a situation which could have been dealt with maturely threatened to blow out of proportion.

It is the mindset which is worrying and it is this aspect which the people should be addressing with the seriousness it deserves.

This was not the first time that Manipur witnessed such a situation and with no indication that people are ready to change their mindset, it is unlikely that things will improve for the better.

So it is that Manipur has to deal with the wrath of nature and with situations which are basically man-made.

The people to people communication to deal with the man made situations and all need to remove the blinkers from their eyes.