Is human really powerful?

A news really disturbed me to the core:

There was a freak accident in Delhi, India where a lady lost her two year old child. In her unsuccessful attempt to save that child both her arms got burnt. This resulted in loss of job for her and an extra expenditure of medical treatment. This family has another child who has a liver problem, so has to be on the regular treatment.
The loss of her income has hit the family hard.
When I read this it just struck me that the family was as it is at Hand-to-mouth state, with all this happening they have landed into the worst state.
What prompts such events?
How can we avert it?
Do we have any power to avert it?
If not then what are we so proud of?
Think...