A matter of life, death… and ‘other things’

A man died on the spot as a wall collapsed on him this week in Changzamtok. The deceased, a municipality worker was on the job in the vicinity and attending to the structure as well.

Things that come to light in this incident are highly reflective of elements that have little to do with the person’s karmic interpretations but significantly have more to do with general conduct of business as in doing work properly.

It cannot be swept under the rug the fact that the construction of a solid retaining wall positioned in the middle of other public structures, where there is high and continuous movement of people and vehicles, did not entirely receive the strongest and quality finish it deserved. Now that’s a direct shot at the builders or the contractors to whom work was assigned.

The authority in question did not supervise the works in all good earnest. If it did, then it was not effectively done. This doesn’t really draw the most pleasant picture for the process of tendering works that as it is remains mired in controversy more frequently.

The ambulance that supposedly rushed to the scene of calamity was so to say a formality or procedural gesture to be present when called, since unless the driver was himself a trained medical expert, his being there with an ambulance with no other medical professionals was as good as a no show from the medics.

People at the scene say the person could have been saved ‘if’ he received medical treatment ‘on time.’

One might ask why the deceased took troubles to remove the stone that was supposedly supporting the wall. So then, should we blame the city employee for doing his job. If so, then we can also attribute said person’s death to his being 73 year old and not strong enough to survive a wall collapsing on him.

Negligence of work, corruption in carrying out works, accountability are the big and bold headers that immediately come flashing red and loud in matters that are as such.

Incidents vary from one to another in mannerisms of how much it makes one scratch the head, trying to place a finger on that one actual ‘cause and effect’ factor. However, it should all come back to how things were done, properly or improperly; following the rules or bending the rules.

Published as Editorial for Business Bhutan on April 4, 2015