August 5, Copiopa, Attacama desert in Chile, the Latin American nation. 33 miners of a gold-copper mine must not have apprehended even in the widest of their dreams that it would turn out to be a fateful day in their life. Likewise their near and dear ones.
But the unfortunate event happened to the shock of those 33Chileans especially their dear ones. The mine caved in and 33 of them got trapped inside. All outside the mine including their co-workers resigned to the fate that their comrades had gone forever. Unfortunate news flashed across Chile and the world over. But all resigned to fate, the ultimate bitter truth. How was it possible for the 33 trapped inside about 2050 feet down to remain alive, no, improbable, impossible to say the least. Hopes and prayers of the dear ones with tearful eyes must have its effect otherwise how come it was possible for the trapped ones to survive.
At the very moment, their co-workers felt like signals of their comrades still fighting for an escape route, the fading lights of hopes and beliefs brightened once more, comrades outside girded-up their loins to rescue their brethren by struggling to the last. They fed their brethren by feeding them from above through a narrow way going downwards water, dehydration gel and food, as by that time the exact location where they were trapped could be located and numerous obstacles about to be surmounted from thereon.
Each day news came out pouring through visual, internet and print media, the progress achieved so far infront of a world awaiting with fingers crossed to the hopes and reliefs of each one.
A shaft, wider than the shoulder adjacent to the mine was being dug to enable the trapped ones to come to the open each one at a time in a capsule 'phoenix', named after the mythical bird which out of its ashes comes to life. Imagine their plight, each day passed with darkness all around unable to see each other. Light at the end of the tunnel - was their only hope and that hope provided each the determination and courage, one day all of them would be able to overcome the ordeal they were passing through. And their overall belief lied in the grit and determination of their comrades who were round the clock working literally slogging it out to rescue them. This light of life - the light of hope and confidence mankind still continues to hold aflame even amidst wars, terror, ethnic rivalry, territorial claims et al gives each human-being the strength to pull on, though at times in fits of rage and righteous indignation, we curse others and even ourselves and lament our fate of leading lives in an imperfect world. But somewhere at the very bottom of each one's mind their is a flame or a spark of love and kindness. If this flame of hope was not aflame or if we are not willing to keep it intact, what would have been our fate. Going philosophical, no? sometimes.
Aug 5 - Aug 13, 'an era' of anxious wait especially to the Chileans and particularly to the friends, relatives, parents, wives and children.
69 days elapsed.
Attacama desert getting ready for celebrations. Celebrations already rent the air. As also anxious moments. An abode 'Camp Hope' already built days before, dear ones started camping there. Imagine the rarest of rare moments of a happy re-union. Attacama for the first time in history might be vibrating with festivals of re-union.
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera must have already arrived at the spot. Among the 33, one is a Bolivian, and hence Bolivian Presdient Evo Morales has made it known that he would be at the spot to greet his fellow Bolivian.
As per latest report, three have already come out and it would take 48 hours time for all of them to come out. At a time only one can be accomodated in a capsule and half a kilometer has to be covered to reach the top, therefore this delay.
Man is great, he will ever remain great and I wish if the entire mankind strove to be great setting aside all narrow, destructive tendencies of brother turning against brother is stopped forthwith and let good sense prevail. Is it possible to escape human depravity? Possible?
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