It was heartening to read a feel-good story in the newspapers recently. It concerned the waiving of the loans taken by the two heroic nurses who perished in the fire in Kolkata's Advanced Medicare Research Institute (AMRI) while saving the lives of many patients.

We read so many letters complaining about the standard of bank services so it is especially gratifying to hear that the State Bank of Travancore has addressed a humane need and brought some solace to the grieving parents of the two women.

These two deserve all the praise they can get as what they did is truly inspiring. They did their best to save the lives of those in their charge even as their colleagues fled. This brings to mind the lines from the poem Casablanca: ‘The boy stood on the burning deck/Whence all but he had fled …'

While other more unpleasant facts emerge as the probe into the fire continues, such as the management reportedly telling the staff not to inform the police or firefighting authorities and to douse the fire themselves, it is the human angle of such stories that always stays with us long after judgment is pronounced on who is guilty and punishment meted out.

Kudos also to the West Bengal chief minister who we are told literally camped at the site of the tragedy and directed response operations.

In a solemn ceremony back home in the southern Indian state of Kerala, both nurses were honoured with a gun salute and the sounding of the post, a fitting farewell to these real-life heroines.

As details slowly leak out, once again we are made aware of a tragedy that could have been avoided. As usual we go through the ‘if only' routine. If only the firefighting infrastructure was well maintained. If only the institute had carried out regular evacuation drills in case of just such an emergency. Officials believe there is reason to believe that the hospital authorities are reluctant to come clean because of failure to comply with the government-mandated rule on the patient-doctor ratio.

The government swings into action with promises of jobs to family members of the deceased and ex gratia payments. Isn't all this too little too late?

Blame game

Most of these lapses point to a misuse of funds which lies at the heart of most problems in India and probably in many other countries too. Initial media coverage of the fire mentioned dysfunctional alarms and sprinklers.

So, statements are made about renovating dilapidated facilities and updating equipment in the immediate aftermath of such tragedies. However, a lack of funds is cited as the reason for no action being taken. Then there is a shifting of blame, with those currently in power saying that they are hampered by the legacy left behind by those in the previous government. Soon there is an exchange of allegations and counter allegations as the memory of the victims fades away.

As the blame game plays out, there is no lesson learnt from such an incident, yet another wasted opportunity.

The results of the investigative committee will take time to be revealed by which time our short attention span will have enabled us to move on. I hope that all the promises made to the families of these two women will be honoured.

My scepticism might be unwarranted but one has heard of so many cases where the follow-up action has not matched the passion of words spoken in the heat of the moment.

It's strange that from all the coverage of this incident, what struck a chord was the story of the selfless nurses to whom the safety of those in their charge was paramount.

They exemplify all that is ideal in their noble profession.