WAKE UP, INDIA'S CONSCIENCE!
AI 171 crash June 12 , 2025- aviation sector - 261 killed
Sigachi Industries blast June 30, 2025 - Chemical sector - Over 42 killed
At
the outset, my heartfelt condolences to the familes of those who
perished in these unfortunate incidents. Nothing can bring back the
people who died. The immense grief of the families is unfathomable.
This is a post to highlight how the Indian media, society and regulators treat the two incidents differently.
Strata of society of the people who perished:
AI 171 crash: Those who could afford an international air ticket and some people on the ground.
Sigachi Industries blast - mostly migrant labourers and few operators and supervisors.
Media coverage:
AI 171 crash - Media coverage still hot and on going
Sigachi Industries blast - Interest for about 2 weeks and then died down
Press conferences by regulatory bodies:
AI 171- Continued involvement of both central and state governments
Sigachi Industries blast - a few by the authorities.
Incident invesigation:
AI171 Crash - Investigation ongoing as per ICAO guidelines.Preliminary report made public within 30 days
Sigachi Industries blast - committee formed but no report made public yet.
QUESTIONS:
Isn't the life of a migrant worker, operator, supervisor in a chemical industry the same as an air passenger?
Why
is there no PSM rule implemented in India as a regulatory requirement?
Though efforts have been made in the oil and gas sector, still most of
the other sectors in the chemical industry are left out.
Why
isn't an incident in the chemical sector investigated by an independent
body reporting to the highest levels of government and reports made
public?
Why, after more than 40 years
of the Bhopal disaster, we still have to struggle to obtain incident
investigation reports of incidents in the chemical sector in India? Some
of the available reports do not delve down to the organizational issues
including culture and accountability.
Are we waiting for a bigger chemical disaster than Bhopal to wake up?
Introspect and act!
PROCESS SAFETY MANAGEMENT BY B.KARTHIKEYAN