What an outstanding, perfectly joyful ending to a folktale of human attempt. In pessimistic era of negative news, where the foul and the rotten prevails, this is such tactile evidence of the virtue in mankind. The color of skin did not matter; the gods you prayed to become one, congregated from around the world; over 100 men and women of great courage, to save 12 children and a coach from a cave against all odds, proving that death can be escaped with bravery and spirit and the prayers of six billion beings on this planet.
It’s not surprising that innumerable people around the globe were frozen to their screens, eager to hear that the boys and divers are fine and that the coach was rescued in good health as well.
As the rescue operation has come to end and the suffering of suspense is over, the government of Thailand, its armed forces and its sword-and-shield divers need to be given a round of applauds for their professional handiwork and dedication in putting their lives on the line.
What actually happened?
Saturday, June 23
The search and rescue mission begins after 12 members of the Wild Boar soccer team and their coach go missing inside a flooded cave in northern Thailand.
Sunday, June 24
Rescue teams find bags and sandals 3 km (1.9 miles) inside the cave but rising water forced them to suspend the search
Monday, June 25
Thai Royal Navy SEAL divers reach the cave but search paused again because of flooding. Officials start pumping out water.
Tuesday, June 26
Heavy rain stops helicopters from searching of alternate entrances to the cave.
Wednesday, June 27
Approx 1,000 army & navy and local volunteers join the search. By nightfall, rescue specialists from the US military and the UK also arrive.
Thursday, June 28
Heavy duty pumps are brought in to battle the floodwaters, but heavy rain stopped rescuers for five hours.
Friday, June 29
Teams from China join the multinational operation
Saturday, June 30
Experts from Australia were also sent.
Sunday, July 1
Thai Navy SEALs continued efforts to reach the caves along with the Experts from at least six countries. More equipments were reached from plane.
Monday, July 2
Two British divers find all 12 boys and their coach alive, rest on a shelf above the floodwaters 4 km (2.5 miles) inside the cave.
Tuesday, July 3
Thai Navy SEALs brought medical help, fresh water, food and blankets to the soccer team.
Wednesday, July 4
Experts discussed about how to evacuate the boys, while rescuers practice what to do when the boys leave the cave.
Thursday, July 5
Rescuers pumped water out of the cave as trekkers try to locate a natural opening to the cavern where the boys were.
Friday, July 6
Saman Kunan, a former sergeant in the Thai Navy SEALs who volunteered the dive teams, died after his oxygen runs out underwater.
Saturday, July 7
Rescuers stormed against forecasts of heavy rain at the site.
Sunday, July 8
Eighteen expert divers enter the cave, appeared 11 hours later with 4 boys who were hospitalised in Chiang Rai.
Monday, July 9
Rescuers re-entered the cave and 9 hours later brought 4 more trapped boys. The families allowed seeing them through a glass window on Sunday.
Tuesday, July 10
Rescuers made the last third attempt to bring out the 4 remaining boys and their coach, safely put of the cave.
Lessons to be learnt
Inventiveness off sensitiveness
Wisdom to absorb
Knowledge to assimilate
To not disturb the ongoing operation Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha stayed away from the site.
The only spokesperson was the governor of the province, Narongsak Osottanakorn, nobody else was allowed to grab the mic.
Media stood aside from giving the spark to the sensationalism.
Startled parents of the children showed patience and stood calm under the scenario. There were no dramas, only rays of silent hope.
Military was free to create a medical facility, chisel a military plan and commence a four-day rescue procedure, without interference from government or politics. There was no Opposition trumpet, solely a nation willing the success.
World came together
Unity in Diversity
The world is one
Human chain
The mankind vein
Elon Musk sending a tiny submarine. Officials praised his mini-submarine but said it was not needed.
Rescue specialists from the US military and the UK also arrive.
Australia also sent in experts.
India was involved as two Indians were the part of the seven-member team of Kirloskar Brothers Limited, company that made the pump to flush out the water.
Japanese divers joined hands with Thai divers.
Conclusion
CONJECTURE OF THE CAVE
One can never imagine the pain those little children have gone through, stuck in dark without food, waters whirling devilry around them and just dripping cave water. The coach, Ekapol Chantawong, deserves a bravery award for keeping these boys encouraged enough over this long period. Thai people and authorities presented great discipline and skill. In that is a lesson to the rest of the world.
How amazing it is to see that few kids in a country got stuck and whole globe stood up to help them irrespective of borders, competition, language and religion; Thai people and authorities underscored great discipline and skill, a tribute to the determination to strive, to seek and not to yield at its very best. Applauds to the Thai authorities and coming together of the world to make it a better place.