Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Avoidable tragedy: On the Hathras stampede

Avoidable tragedy: On the Hathras stampede

Mass gatherings should be tightly (मजबूती से) regulated (नियंत्रित करना) to prevent Hathras-type stampedes (भगदड़)

The stampede at a religious congregation (सभा) at Hathras in western Uttar Pradesh, claiming (दावा करना) over 120 lives, is only the latest in a series of such tragedies in the country. There have been at least half-a-dozen such incidents in the last 20-odd years. In this instance, at least a lakh of people flocked (इकट्ठा होना) to Fulrai village to listen to an address (भाषण) by a preacher (उपदेशक, प्रचारक) Suraj Pal, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari or “Bhole Baba”. There are reports that there were over 2.5 lakh participants at the venue, which could accommodate (समायोजित करना) no more than 80,000. The preacher is said to have followers in States such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana too. Most of the deceased (मृतक), mainly women and children, were from the economically vulnerable (कमजोर) sections of society, and were in search of (की तलाश में) spiritual solace (comfort, consolation, support). While only a fair investigation can find out the cause (कारण) for the stampede, the reasons being cited (उद्धृत करना) include overcrowding, and the bid (attempt, effort) by some to collect soil from around the feet of the preacher. Not surprisingly, the responses, particularly from the field-level public health system, have exposed (उजागर करना) how ill-prepared (not prepared; not ready to deal with a situation) the Uttar Pradesh administration (government, regime, authority) is. Visuals of bodies lying outside the place of post mortem (autopsy) and of the kin (relatives, relations, family members, nearest and dearest) desperate (urgently requiring; in great need of; lacking, wanting; urgent, critical, crucial, important, pressing, serious) for help, as well as an inadequate number of ambulances and medical staff have become the common features (characteristic, trait, quality, aspect, factor, point) of such tragedies. What has made it worse is the preacher and his aides (assistant, helper, companion, subordinate, junior) reportedly (apparently, supposedly, evidently, seemingly, allegedly, presumably, ostensibly) leaving the site even as panic-stricken (frightened, scared, horrified, fearful, panicky, panic-struck, nervous, frantic, frenzied) people were dying.

The most tragic aspect, as seen in the past, is that it was all avoidable had there been proactive steps taken by a vigilant (watchful, attentive, careful, cautious, circumspect, prepared, prudent, mindful) administration. Unfortunately, the authorities (officials, officialdom, the people in charge, the government, the administration, the establishment, the bureaucracy, the system) in many States do not appear to have learnt lessons or made use of the availability of better technology and communication. Apart from stringent (strict, severe, extreme, rigorous) action against those responsible, the U.P. administration should ensure a just (fair, impartial, unbiased, even-handed, open-minded) compensation (payment, repayment, settlement (for loss/damage)) package, the cost of which has to be borne by the organisers. The tragedy is a classic study in the management of large crowds. The officials concerned should ensure that the organisers have the wherewithal (means, ability, capability (required to accomplish a task or purpose); money, finances, resources, funds) to handle large gatherings of any size. The local authorities and organisers should also conduct a drill (rehearsal, training, instruction) ahead of such events. What is more important is that the political executive (the executive is a branch of government which enforces the law as written by the legislature and interpreted by the judiciary), the bureaucracy (officials, officialdom, the people in charge, authorities) and organisers of any public event should be conscious of (wary of, aware of, alert to, careful of, mindful of, sensible of) the fact that (used to refer to a specific situation under consideration/discussion) the loss of a life is a tragedy for the person’s family. The arrangements for mass functions should be governed by this fact.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.stampede (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भगदड़
English Meaning - people’s movement rapidly in a mass after panic.

2.tightly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - मजबूती से
English Meaning - with very strict control.

3.regulate (verb)

Hindi Meaning - नियंत्रित करना
English Meaning - control (by means of rules and regulations).

4.congregation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सभा
English Meaning - gathering, assembly, a mass/group (of people).

5.claim (verb)

Hindi Meaning - दावा करना
English Meaning - take, cause the loss of (life).

6.flock (verb)

Hindi Meaning - इकट्ठा होना
English Meaning - assemble, gather, come/get together.

7.address (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भाषण
English Meaning - talk, speech, discourse, lecture, oration.

8.preacher (noun)

Hindi Meaning - उपदेशक, प्रचारक
English Meaning - a person who gives a religious speech.

9.accommodate (verb)

Hindi Meaning - समायोजित करना
English Meaning - take in, fit, hold, make room for, provide shelter for.

10.the deceased (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मृतक
English Meaning - a person who is dead/passed away.

11.vulnerable (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कमजोर
English Meaning - relating to a weak/neglected person who is in need of special care/support; endangered, unsafe, unprotected, undefended, attackable, defenceless, helpless, powerless.

12.in search of (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - की तलाश में
English Meaning - looking for, try to find something.

13.cause (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कारण
English Meaning - reason.

14.cite (verb)

Hindi Meaning - उद्धृत करना
English Meaning - invoke, mention, refer to, point to, adduce, turn to, resort to.

15.expose (verb)

Hindi Meaning - उजागर करना
English Meaning - reveal, disclose, lay bare, unveil, show, display, exhibit, manifest, highlight, pinpoint.

16.solace (noun)

English Meaning - comfort, consolation, support.

17.bid (noun)

English Meaning - attempt, effort.

18.ill-prepared (adjective)

English Meaning - not prepared; not ready to deal with a situation.

19.administration (noun)

English Meaning - government, regime, authority.

20.post-mortem (noun)

English Meaning - autopsy.

21.kin (noun)

English Meaning - relatives, relations, family members, nearest and dearest.

22.desperate (adjective)

English Meaning - urgently requiring; in great need of; lacking, wanting; urgent, critical, crucial, important, pressing, serious.

23.feature (noun)

English Meaning - characteristic, trait, quality, aspect, factor, point.

24.to make matters worse (phrase)

English Meaning - to make a difficult situation even more difficult; aggravate, compound, exacerbate.

25.aide (noun)

English Meaning - assistant, helper, companion, subordinate, junior.

26.reportedly (adverb)

English Meaning - apparently, supposedly, evidently, seemingly, allegedly, presumably, ostensibly.

27.panic-stricken (adjective)

English Meaning - frightened, scared, horrified, fearful, panicky, panic-struck, nervous, frantic, frenzied.

28.vigilant (adjective)

English Meaning - watchful, attentive, careful, cautious, circumspect, prepared, prudent, mindful.

29.authorities (noun)

English Meaning - officials, officialdom, the people in charge, the government, the administration, the establishment, the bureaucracy, the system.

30.make use of (phrase)

English Meaning - use, utilize, employ, apply, resort to.

31.stringent (adjective)

English Meaning - strict, severe, extreme, rigorous.

32.just (adjective)

English Meaning - fair, impartial, unbiased, even-handed, open-minded.

33.compensation (noun)

English Meaning - payment, repayment, settlement (for loss/damage).

34.wherewithal (noun)

English Meaning - means, ability, capability (required to accomplish a task or purpose); money, finances, resources, funds.

35.drill (noun)

English Meaning - rehearsal, training, instruction.

36.the executive (noun)

English Meaning - the executive is a branch of government which enforces the law as written by the legislature and interpreted by the judiciary.

37.the bureaucracy (noun)

English Meaning - officials, officialdom, the people in charge, authorities.

38.conscious of (adjective)

English Meaning - wary of, aware of, alert to, careful of, mindful of, sensible of.

39.the fact that (phrase)

English Meaning - used to refer to a specific situation under consideration/discussion.