So far, Hurricane Sandy has killed a large number of people in the US as well as in Caribbean. It has been reported that 8.1 million have been left without power and at least 80 homes gutted because of fire.
This is, without doubt, horrific devastation and the reconstruction work will be a Herculean job, as stated by the CNN. Commenting on the raging Sandy, President Barack Obama himself observed that it triggered a major disaster and it would be a long road to recovery, which is an enormous job. The response of natural disaster management agencies, however, has been prompt. The rescuers are seen supplying goods to the victims, issuing warnings and storm updates to enable the people to get out of harm’s ways. That serves to remind one of the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities in Pakistan whenever a natural calamity hits the country. While in US, there is stress on precautionary as well as relief measures, we are found lacking in both. It is because of the precautions that the government in the US took that the rescue operations were carried out promptly. We hardly have any management or disaster management plan, though there are duly constituted authorities; there is neither any evacuation plan, nor any proper warning system. When a disaster strikes, the people are left at the mercy of nature, homeless, in pitiable condition housed in makeshift camps. It is hoped that the US example would prompt our authorities to take similar measures.
Iqra Imran,
Lahore, October 31.