THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary - March 14, 2018 - Topic 2

Fire in the woods: on Theni forest fire tragedy

The forest fire in Tamil Nadu’s Theni hills that claimed the lives of 11 trekkers and severely injured many others is a heart-rending tragedy, with many of them being women who were out to celebrate International Women’s Day. Questions are naturally being asked whether the Forest Department failed to stop treks during the February-June fire season, and whether the response to the early distress alerts was slow. 

It appears that the difficult terrain gave many of those caught in the fire line little chance, and proved challenging for the State’s rescue operation launched in coordination with the Central government. The residents of the hills played a commendable role in aiding the effort. Yet, several families are left scarred as they try to cope with the loss of loved ones. The tragedy has highlighted the lack of emphasis on safety in the way such events are organised. Indeed, if there is any lesson that can be learnt from the episode, it is that such adventures should place safety above everything else, and that the government has a key role to play in evolving the protocols. In a country with rich landscapes and forests, the wish to briefly leave the urban life behind and take to the outdoors is but natural. .

But as the trek from Kurangani to Kolukkumalai shows, there are hazards. The risk of fire is particularly important, given that 55% of forest cover in India is assessed by the Indian Space Research Organisation as being vulnerable. With constant improvements to remote sensing capabilities, and through partnerships with organisations such as the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Remote Sensing Centre has been issuing day and night fire alerts to forest departments. This should have alerted the Forest Department to stop trekking tours, and the State government’s inquiry into the Theni tragedy should reveal whether it was part of the alerts system, and whether they were actually issued. The probe should also determine whether the fires were triggered by burning of grass on the lower slopes. Ideally, the database of fires, including the GIS information, should be made available on the Internet. Also, organisers need to be trained in fire escape manoeuvres, and carry the right equipment, including wireless communication sets. Care must be taken to see that small children are not part of such groups. Raising safety standards in tourism and creating safe experiences is the imperative, as more young Indians will continue to seek adventure. The importance of raising the capabilities of district hospitals has also been underscored by the disaster.

Vocabulary

Tragedy: a play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending

Example: The Play of King Lear is a great tragic play that many tragedies try to compare to.

Synonyms: disaster, calamity, catastrophe, cataclysm, misfortune, mishap

Antonyms: comedy

Distress: extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

Example: To his distress he saw that she was trembling

Synonyms: anguish, suffering, pain, agony, torment, heartache

Terrain: a stretch of land, especially with regard to its physical features.

Example: They were delayed by rough terrain

Synonyms: land, ground, territory, topography, landscape, countryside

Rescue: an act of saving or being saved from danger or distress.

Example: He came to our rescue with a loan of $100

Synonyms: saving, rescuing, release, freeing, liberation, bailout

Antonyms: preclude, corrupt, kidnap, enslave, constrict

Scar: mark with a scar or scars.

Example: He is likely to be scarred for life after injuries to his face, arms, and legs

Synonyms: disfigure, mark, blemish, discolor, pockmark, pit

Indeed: used to emphasize a statement or response confirming something already suggested.

Example: It was not expected to last long, and indeed it took less than three weeks

Synonyms: as expected, to be sure, in fact, in point of fact, as a matter of fact

Assess: evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of.

Example: The committee must assess the relative importance of the issues

Synonyms: evaluate, judge, gauge, rate, estimate, appraise, consider

Reveal: make previously unknown or secret information known to others.

Example: Brenda was forced to reveal Robbie's whereabouts

Synonyms: divulge, disclose, tell, let slip, let drop, give away, give out

Antonyms: bury, conceal, cover up, hide, hush, keep back

Manoeuvre: a movement or series of moves requiring skill and care.

Example: Spectacular jumps and other daring maneuvers

Synonyms: operation, exercise, activity, move, movement, action

Imperative: giving an authoritative command.

Example: The bell pealed again, a final imperative call

Synonyms: peremptory, commanding, imperious, authoritative, masterful

Antonyms: mendicant, beseeching, petitionary, precatory, imploring

Adventure: an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity.

Example: Her recent adventures in Italy

Synonyms: exploit, escapade, deed, feat, experience

Antonyms: appointment, calculation, certainty, decree