Hi All,
Let me first elaborate on the title in order to avoid any confusion. Man Vs Wild is in context with the Bihar Flood and Man is Wild is to show you all our inhumane nature towards an accident victim.
I am sure you all have studied geography during your school days and must be well aware of the major rivers in India. Does that include Kosi river or Koshi (Real Name)? Well, I am quite sure that except from quite a few (who are native to Bihar or Jharkhand) not many would really know. So, let me first tell you the brief history of this river.
Actually Kosi is a major tributary of Ganga. This river is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata as KauĊiki. Seven Koshis join together to form the Saptakoshi River which is popularly known as the Koshi.
What we are facing now is 10% of what Bihar would have faced on 24th August, 1954. The average flow of this river is 55,000 cubic feet per second. During floods, it increases to as much as 18 times the average. On this fateful day it was 850,000 cu ft/s. After that Kosi Barrage which is much in news these days has been designed for 954,000 cu ft/s.
Now it has been said that river has changed its course after 2 centuries (200 Years) and hence the flood. I would have no problem if this change in route was in destiny’s hand. Unfortunately this is not the case. After the disastrous flood in 1954 it was mutually decided between India and Nepal to work on three major projects on this river basin. First was to build the Barrage to control this wayward river which has migrated about 120 km in the last 250 years. Second was to build embankments both above and below the barrage to define a fixed channel. Third, to build a dam to provide substantial flood cushion along with large irrigation and power benefits to both countries. First two were to be developed and maintained by Govt. of India and third one was the responsibility of Nepal.
India has however developed the first two and “MAINTAINED”. But, we are still waiting for a dam on this “Sorrow of Bihar” (Another name for Kosi). Still I don’t have any issues with Nepal govt. Since they were too busy in developing their DAMNS with Maoists.
This situation had never been raised if we maintained what we were supposed to do. The Kosi barrage, completed in 1963, was built only for 25 years as a temporary solution to the flood problem, and experts agree it has outlived its utility. 20 years has gone and we are still preparing DPR (Detailed Project Report) for Dam.
So, please don’t blame on Kosi as it is on its way back where it is suppose to be.
After 7/11 (Mumbai Local Train Blast) we have seen the spirit of Mumbai. How people were back to work right from very next day. I agree that was the spirit. Now, What do you call this if an accident victim lying on road and cry for help and every one around was running for their WORK.
Nirmala Kadam died on a busy road in Mumbai. Hit by a taxi while crossing the road, Kadam was then run over by a bus. As she lay in a pool of blood, begging for water, the world turned a blind eye to Kadam’s distress. Even the constables who came apparently to help, treated her with callous neglect. She died on the way to hospital.
Is this because we don’t want to help accident victims or we don’t want to involve. I always feel that people in India are same as other part of the world but its our system which make them so callous. Actually it is our system which treats witness as a criminal. According to a Chandigarh based NGO at least 90% cases (the NGO has helped) are those where people have refused to help the victim.
In Delhi recently, one hospital demanded a Rs 40,000 deposit from the person who brought in an accident victim. When the person refused, he was asked to take the casualty elsewhere. A scuffle ensued and the police were called in. It was revealed that the hospital had a history of denying admission to accident victims.
Supreme Court’s guidelines directing lay Indians never to ignore the injured and medical practitioners never to turn away victims of road accidents. But I think it is hard to enforce. We have seen during riots or during Natural calamities people open their doors even for strangers. But mean-spirited for accident victims because it might end in a police station.
It’s a question that needs to be asked. How can people be so caring with family and friends, but not towards his fellow man, even if a stranger?
Remember: You might be a spectator today but might be a VICTIM tomorrow.
With Love,
Dhiraj Srivastava
Sources
Man Vs. Wild
http://www.wikipedia.org/
UN Bihar Flood Report.
Man is Wild
Times of India (http://epaper.timesofindia.com)
Let me first elaborate on the title in order to avoid any confusion. Man Vs Wild is in context with the Bihar Flood and Man is Wild is to show you all our inhumane nature towards an accident victim.
Man Vs Wild
I am sure you all have studied geography during your school days and must be well aware of the major rivers in India. Does that include Kosi river or Koshi (Real Name)? Well, I am quite sure that except from quite a few (who are native to Bihar or Jharkhand) not many would really know. So, let me first tell you the brief history of this river.
Actually Kosi is a major tributary of Ganga. This river is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata as KauĊiki. Seven Koshis join together to form the Saptakoshi River which is popularly known as the Koshi.
What we are facing now is 10% of what Bihar would have faced on 24th August, 1954. The average flow of this river is 55,000 cubic feet per second. During floods, it increases to as much as 18 times the average. On this fateful day it was 850,000 cu ft/s. After that Kosi Barrage which is much in news these days has been designed for 954,000 cu ft/s.
Now it has been said that river has changed its course after 2 centuries (200 Years) and hence the flood. I would have no problem if this change in route was in destiny’s hand. Unfortunately this is not the case. After the disastrous flood in 1954 it was mutually decided between India and Nepal to work on three major projects on this river basin. First was to build the Barrage to control this wayward river which has migrated about 120 km in the last 250 years. Second was to build embankments both above and below the barrage to define a fixed channel. Third, to build a dam to provide substantial flood cushion along with large irrigation and power benefits to both countries. First two were to be developed and maintained by Govt. of India and third one was the responsibility of Nepal.
India has however developed the first two and “MAINTAINED”. But, we are still waiting for a dam on this “Sorrow of Bihar” (Another name for Kosi). Still I don’t have any issues with Nepal govt. Since they were too busy in developing their DAMNS with Maoists.
This situation had never been raised if we maintained what we were supposed to do. The Kosi barrage, completed in 1963, was built only for 25 years as a temporary solution to the flood problem, and experts agree it has outlived its utility. 20 years has gone and we are still preparing DPR (Detailed Project Report) for Dam.
So, please don’t blame on Kosi as it is on its way back where it is suppose to be.
Man is Wild
After 7/11 (Mumbai Local Train Blast) we have seen the spirit of Mumbai. How people were back to work right from very next day. I agree that was the spirit. Now, What do you call this if an accident victim lying on road and cry for help and every one around was running for their WORK.
Nirmala Kadam died on a busy road in Mumbai. Hit by a taxi while crossing the road, Kadam was then run over by a bus. As she lay in a pool of blood, begging for water, the world turned a blind eye to Kadam’s distress. Even the constables who came apparently to help, treated her with callous neglect. She died on the way to hospital.
Is this because we don’t want to help accident victims or we don’t want to involve. I always feel that people in India are same as other part of the world but its our system which make them so callous. Actually it is our system which treats witness as a criminal. According to a Chandigarh based NGO at least 90% cases (the NGO has helped) are those where people have refused to help the victim.
In Delhi recently, one hospital demanded a Rs 40,000 deposit from the person who brought in an accident victim. When the person refused, he was asked to take the casualty elsewhere. A scuffle ensued and the police were called in. It was revealed that the hospital had a history of denying admission to accident victims.
Supreme Court’s guidelines directing lay Indians never to ignore the injured and medical practitioners never to turn away victims of road accidents. But I think it is hard to enforce. We have seen during riots or during Natural calamities people open their doors even for strangers. But mean-spirited for accident victims because it might end in a police station.
It’s a question that needs to be asked. How can people be so caring with family and friends, but not towards his fellow man, even if a stranger?
Remember: You might be a spectator today but might be a VICTIM tomorrow.
With Love,
Dhiraj Srivastava
Sources
Man Vs. Wild
http://www.wikipedia.org/
UN Bihar Flood Report.
Man is Wild
Times of India (http://epaper.timesofindia.com)
