Hindi English Translation || Editorial || The price of negligence: On the Virudhunagar cracker unit blast

The price of negligence: On the Virudhunagar cracker unit blast

Human involvement in hazardous (खतरनाक, जोखिमपूर्ण) industries must be minimal (न्यूनतम, बहुत कम)

In yet another gruesome (भयानक, डरावना) explosion at a fireworks unit on April 19 in Tamil Nadu’s southern Virudhunagar district, 25 workers were killed and eight others injured. The number of injured went up to 20, including policemen and firefighters, after another explosion (विस्फोट) occurred at the unit later. In the past four years, at least 134 people have died and 89 have been injured in such explosions in the district, which is known for its concentration of fireworks units. It is an outright (पूर्णतः, बिल्कुल) misnomer (गलत नाम, अनुचित नाम) to describe this type of explosion as an accident, as any preliminary investigation (जांच, अनुसंधान) would reveal (उजागर करना, प्रकट करना). Accidents are associated with elements of surprise and unanticipated (अप्रत्याशित) occurrence (घटना). But in the case of Virudhunagar, it is known to every worker — even if (भले ही, चाहे) no separate sensitisation (the process of making people aware of and responsive to a particular issue or danger; awareness-building, education, familiarization, consciousness-raising) course is conducted — that the firecracker industry is hazardous and that any negligence (लापरवाही, उपेक्षा) of safety norms (an established standard or rule designed to prevent accidents and ensure safety; safety standard, security guideline, protective measure, safety protocol) can result in (lead to, cause, bring about, give rise to) disaster (a sudden accident or natural catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life; catastrophe, tragedy, calamity, ruin). Moreover, such explosions have occurred at regular intervals in the district, claiming (to cause the loss of life in an accident or disaster; take, cost, result in the death of) the lives of scores of (a large number or amount of things or people; a lot of, numerous, multitudes of, many) workers, most of whom come from economically weaker sections (an official classification in India referring to citizens whose annual family income falls below a prescribed threshold, entitling them to specific welfare measures and reservations in education and government jobs) of society. Beyond (apart from or in addition to; apart from, besides, other than, exceeding) expressing condolences (an expression of sympathy, especially on the occasion of a death; sympathy, commiseration, pity, comfort) and announcing solatium (a form of compensation given to a victim or their family as a consolation for loss, suffering, or injury; compensation, reparation, damages, recompense), the authorities (officials, bureaucracy, administration, government) at the Union and State levels have done little of substance (having practical importance, value, or significance; significant, meaningful, substantial, consequential) to reduce, if not eliminate, the risk of such explosions. What they should and could have done is intensify (to become or make more intense, thorough, or vigorous; escalate, step up, boost, strengthen) meaningful monitoring (observation, surveillance, oversight), the absence (lack, non-existence, unavailability, deficiency) of which is now and then felt in the form of explosions.

The Virudhunagar incident has brought into focus the role of law enforcement (the activity of some members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce the law) authorities in ensuring proper supervision (oversight, management, monitoring, administration), as the unit in question (being discussed or considered; under consideration, at issue, under discussion, concerned) was operating on a Sunday — observed as a holiday by the fireworks industry — apparently (seemingly, evidently, outwardly, ostensibly) without permission. Contrary (conflicting, opposing, at odds, contradictory) to the norms specified in the licence (permit, certificate, authorization, warrant) issued by the district authorities, which allow only a dozen people to work in any fireworks unit at any given time (at any specific moment; at any one moment), 40 people were present at the unit at the time of (during the specific period when an event occurred; during, when, in the course of) the explosion on Sunday. These two aspects (a particular part or feature of something; feature, facet, side, characteristic), judging by the frequency (the rate at which something occurs or is repeated over a particular period; rate of occurrence, prevalence, recurrence, commonness) of such explosions, are not unique to this particular fireworks unit. Official inspections may have taken place but they would have been carried out more as a ritual (routine, custom, formality, habit) than as a meaningful exercise. There have, of course (naturally, definitely, obviously, certainly), been reports of a manpower (workforce, personnel, staff, human resources) shortage within the monitoring authorities. While coming down heavily (severely, intensely, profoundly, substantially) on wrongdoers (a person who behaves illegally or dishonestly; offender, culprit, lawbreaker, transgressor), including unlicensed (unauthorized, illegal, uncertified, unapproved) units and those working regularly in violation (breach, infringement, contravention, breaking) of safety norms, the officials (officer, bureaucrat, administrator, authority) should also ensure that, in the name of (for the sake of; on behalf of, for the sake of, at the behest of) tighter supervision, legitimately (legally, lawfully, rightfully, validly) functioning units are not subjected to harassment (aggressive pressure or intimidation; persecution, intimidation, bullying, pestering). They should also not gloss over (to try to conceal or disguise something unfavorable by treating it briefly or ignoring it; cover up, conceal, ignore, minimize) the economic reality of the district where the industry provides employment to lakhs of people in a region that is largely (to a great extent; on the whole; mostly, mainly, primarily, principally) arid and dependent on (reliant on, relying on, counting on, sustained by) rain-fed (referring to agriculture or land that depends primarily on rainfall rather than artificial irrigation; rain-dependent, un-irrigated) irrigation. Sober (serious, sensible, and solemn, realistic) elements in the industry should consider ways to increase the use of automation and reduce human involvement.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.price (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कीमत, दाम
English Meaning - the undesirable cost, consequence, or sacrifice involved in doing something; cost, consequence, toll, penalty.

2.negligence (noun)

Hindi Meaning - लापरवाही, उपेक्षा
English Meaning - failure to take proper care in doing something, leading to damage or injury; carelessness, dereliction of duty, laxity, oversight.

3.blast (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विस्फोट
English Meaning - a destructive explosion; explosion, detonation, blow-up, burst.

4.hazardous (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - खतरनाक, जोखिमपूर्ण
English Meaning - dangerous, perilous, unsafe, high-risk.

5.minimal (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - न्यूनतम, बहुत कम
English Meaning - of a minimum amount, quantity, or degree; least possible, negligible, nominal, marginal.

6.gruesome (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - भयानक, डरावना
English Meaning - ghastly, horrific, terrible, spine-chilling, macabre, grisly.

7.explosion (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विस्फोट
English Meaning - blast, detonation, bursting, blow-up.

8.go up (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - बढ़ना, ऊपर जाना
English Meaning - increase, rise, escalate, surge.

9.outright (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - पूर्णतः, बिल्कुल
English Meaning - wholly and completely; absolute, total, complete, unequivocal.

10.misnomer (noun)

Hindi Meaning - गलत नाम, अनुचित नाम
English Meaning - a wrong or inaccurate name or designation; inaccurate term, wrong description, inappropriate name, misnaming.

11.investigation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जांच, अनुसंधान
English Meaning - a formal or systematic examination; probe, inquiry, scrutiny, examination.

12.reveal (verb)

Hindi Meaning - उजागर करना, प्रकट करना
English Meaning - disclose, unveil, uncover, expose.

13.unanticipated (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अप्रत्याशित
English Meaning - not expected or predicted; unforeseen, unexpected, unpredicted, unlooked-for.

14.occurrence (noun)

Hindi Meaning - घटना
English Meaning - an incident or event; event, incident, happening, phenomenon.

15.even if (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - भले ही, चाहे
English Meaning - despite the possibility that; whether or not, regardless of whether, notwithstanding.

16.sensitisation (noun)

English Meaning - the process of making people aware of and responsive to a particular issue or danger; awareness-building, education, familiarization, consciousness-raising.

17.In yet another (phrase)

English Meaning - used to emphasize that something is happening again, adding to a series of similar events; once again, for another time, repeatedly.

18.concentration (noun)

English Meaning - a close gathering or dense accumulation of people or things in a particular area; cluster, gathering, aggregation, amassing.

19.elements of surprise (phrase)

English Meaning - the condition of being unexpected, often providing an advantage or causing shock; suddenness, unexpectedness, unpredictability, shock value.

20.associate with (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - link to, connect with, relate to, correlate.

21.course (noun)

English Meaning - program, curriculum, training, module.

22.safety norm (noun)

English Meaning - an established standard or rule designed to prevent accidents and ensure safety; safety standard, security guideline, protective measure, safety protocol.

23.norm (noun)

English Meaning - standard, rule, guideline, convention.

24.result in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - lead to, cause, bring about, give rise to.

25.disaster (noun)

English Meaning - a sudden accident or natural catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life; catastrophe, tragedy, calamity, ruin.

26.moreover (adverb)

English Meaning - furthermore, additionally, in addition, besides.

27.claim (verb)

English Meaning - to cause the loss of life in an accident or disaster; take, cost, result in the death of.

28.scores of (phrase)

English Meaning - a large number or amount of things or people; a lot of, numerous, multitudes of, many.

29.economically weaker section (EWS) (noun)

English Meaning - an official classification in India referring to citizens whose annual family income falls below a prescribed threshold, entitling them to specific welfare measures and reservations in education and government jobs.

30.beyond (preposition)

English Meaning - apart from or in addition to; apart from, besides, other than, exceeding.

31.express (verb)

English Meaning - to convey a thought or feeling in words or by gestures; convey, communicate, state, articulate.

32.condolences (noun)

English Meaning - an expression of sympathy, especially on the occasion of a death; sympathy, commiseration, pity, comfort.

33.solatium (noun)

English Meaning - a form of compensation given to a victim or their family as a consolation for loss, suffering, or injury; compensation, reparation, damages, recompense.

34.authorities (noun)

English Meaning - officials, bureaucracy, administration, government.

35.do little (phrase)

English Meaning - to take minimal or insufficient action; take negligible action, act insufficiently, fail to act adequately.

36.of substance (phrase)

English Meaning - having practical importance, value, or significance; significant, meaningful, substantial, consequential.

37.intensify (verb)

English Meaning - to become or make more intense, thorough, or vigorous; escalate, step up, boost, strengthen.

38.meaningful (adjective)

English Meaning - significant, purposeful, serious, consequential.

39.monitoring (noun)

English Meaning - observation, surveillance, oversight.

40.absence (noun)

English Meaning - lack, non-existence, unavailability, deficiency.

41.bring into focus (phrase)

English Meaning - to make something clear and prominent so that people pay attention to it; highlight, spotlight, emphasize, draw attention to.

42.law enforcement (noun)

English Meaning - the activity of some members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce the law.

43.law enforcement authorities (noun)

English Meaning - government agencies and officials responsible for ensuring that laws, regulations, and safety norms are strictly obeyed (e.g., the local Police, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), and the district administration); police, regulatory bodies, enforcing agencies, law officers.

44.supervision (noun)

English Meaning - oversight, management, monitoring, administration.

45.in question (phrase)

English Meaning - being discussed or considered; under consideration, at issue, under discussion, concerned.

46.observe (verb)

English Meaning - to fulfill or comply with a custom/rule; follow, keep, respect.

47.apparently (adverb)

English Meaning - seemingly, evidently, outwardly, ostensibly.

48.contrary (adjective)

English Meaning - conflicting, opposing, at odds, contradictory.

49.licence (noun)

English Meaning - permit, certificate, authorization, warrant.

50.at any given time (phrase)

English Meaning - at any specific moment; at any one moment.

51.at the time of (phrase)

English Meaning - during the specific period when an event occurred; during, when, in the course of.

52.aspect (noun)

English Meaning - a particular part or feature of something; feature, facet, side, characteristic.

53.judge (verb)

English Meaning - to form an opinion or conclusion about something; assess, evaluate, appraise, estimate.

54.frequency (noun)

English Meaning - the rate at which something occurs or is repeated over a particular period; rate of occurrence, prevalence, recurrence, commonness.

55.carry out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - execute, conduct, implement, perform.

56.ritual (noun)

English Meaning - routine, custom, formality, habit.

57.of course (phrase)

English Meaning - naturally, definitely, obviously, certainly.

58.manpower (noun)

English Meaning - workforce, personnel, staff, human resources.

59.shortage (noun)

English Meaning - scarcity, lack, deficit, shortfall.

60.come down on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to criticize or punish someone harshly; penalize, crack down on, discipline, chastise.

61.heavily (adverb)

English Meaning - severely, intensely, profoundly, substantially.

62.wrongdoer (noun)

English Meaning - a person who behaves illegally or dishonestly; offender, culprit, lawbreaker, transgressor.

63.unlicensed (adjective)

English Meaning - unauthorized, illegal, uncertified, unapproved.

64.violation (noun)

English Meaning - breach, infringement, contravention, breaking.

65.official (noun)

English Meaning - officer, bureaucrat, administrator, authority.

66.in the name of (phrase)

English Meaning - for the sake of; on behalf of, for the sake of, at the behest of.

67.legitimately (adverb)

English Meaning - legally, lawfully, rightfully, validly.

68.subject to (verb)

English Meaning - to cause or force someone or something to undergo a particular experience, typically an unpleasant one; put through, expose to, inflict on, submit to.

69.harassment (noun)

English Meaning - aggressive pressure or intimidation; persecution, intimidation, bullying, pestering.

70.gloss over (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to try to conceal or disguise something unfavorable by treating it briefly or ignoring it; cover up, conceal, ignore, minimize.

71.largely (adverb)

English Meaning - to a great extent; on the whole; mostly, mainly, primarily, principally.

72.arid (adjective)

English Meaning - having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation; dry, parched, waterless, barren.

73.dependent on (phrase)

English Meaning - reliant on, relying on, counting on, sustained by.

74.rain-fed (adjective)

English Meaning - referring to agriculture or land that depends primarily on rainfall rather than artificial irrigation; rain-dependent, un-irrigated.

75.irrigation (noun)

English Meaning - the supply of water to land or crops to help growth, typically by means of channels; watering.

76.Sober (adjective)

English Meaning - serious, sensible, and solemn, realistic.