For two weeks, 15 young men remain trapped in an illegal mine in Meghalaya and the country does not seem to care

In August 2010, 33 men remained trapped when a mine gave way in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, and the entire country seemed to join hands to ensure that they came out safely. New technologies were developed and the country’s politicians came together to ensure that these men were safely rescued and they were. The incident became so famous that it inspired a Hollywood film starring Antonio Banderas, The 33. And when a few months ago, 12 members of the young Thai football team, the Wild Boars, went missing in a cave, the world took notice. Top global diving experts weighed in and eventually all the boys and their coach were rescued although a Thai military diver lost his life.

So why when 15 men are missing in an illegal mine in Meghalaya are we in India so indifferent or unable to seek humanitarian and technical help? Of course, there is that awful truth that the Northeast of India barely warrants a mention in the national media. Then there is the likelihood that almost all the men missing are not locals but migrants from other states and even illegals from Bangladesh. And there is the fact that politicians in Meghalaya really do not want to blow the lid on the illegal coal mining that keeps the political wheels greased, a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order notwithstanding. Whatever the truth of the matter, the fact is that with no supplies and little effort towards the rescue, the men are almost certainly dead by now. That said, hope should not be lost. This incident highlights how India’s national and state level disaster relief forces must keep equipment for such rescue close at hand, and also India’s awful shortage of private heavy-lift transport aviation, particularly helicopters. The government of Meghalaya, which has seemingly washed its hands of all responsibility in the case, should be censured and pay exemplary compensation to the kin of the dead. In addition, the rat holes where men risk life and limb to extract coal illegally must be shut down so that another tragedy does not occur again.