DISASTER MANAGEMENT

IN

INDIA

A disaster whether natural or human-induced , is an event which results in

widespread human loss . It accompanied by loss of livelihood , property

causing suffering and loss in a definite area , as shown in the picture.

Some of the common features that are normally seen in areas affected by disasters are:-

1. Disruption in the normal functioning of the society , thereby affecting a

large number of people.

2. Large scale loss to life , property , livelihood , thereby affecting the

community which requires external aid to coup up with the losses.

3. A big blow to the country’s economy.

Disasters can be categorized into various types based on the speed and origin/cause.

1. Slow- onset disaster : A disaster that prevails for many days , months or even years like drought , environment degradation , pest infestation , famine are some examples of a slow onset disasters.

2. Rapid-onset disaster : A disaster that is triggered by an instantaneous shock . The impact of this disaster be short-lived or long-term . Earthquake , cyclone , flash flood , volcanic eruption are some examples of rapid onset disasters.

3. Natural disaster : A natural disaster is an event that is caused by a natural hazard and lead to human , material , economics and environmental losses , which exceed the ability of those affected to cope.

Some examples of natural disasters are the 2004 indian ocean tsunami , the 2008 earthquake in china , the 2007 cyclone in Myanmar , the recurrent droughts Rajasthan and the annual floods in both rural and urban areas of northern and western India.

4.Human-Induced disasters : A serious disruption of normal life triggered by a human-induced hazard causing human , material , economic and environmental losses , which exceed the ability of those affected to cope.

India is vulnerable, in varying degrees, to a large number of natural as well as man-made disasters. 58.6 per cent of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity; over 40 million hectares (12 per cent of land) is prone to floods and river erosion; of the 7,516 km long coastline, close to 5,700 km is prone to cyclones and tsunamis; 68 per cent of the cultivable area is vulnerable to drought and hilly areas are at risk from landslides and avalanches. Vulnerability to disasters/ emergencies of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) origin also exists. Heightened vulnerabilities to disaster risks can be related to expanding population, urbanization and industrialization, development within high-risk zones, environmental degradation and climate change (Maps 1-4).

In the context of human vulnerability to disasters, the economically and socially weaker segments of the population are the ones that are most seriously affected. Within the vulnerable groups, elderly persons, women, children - especially women rendered destitute and children orphaned on account of disasters and the differently abled persons are exposed to higher risks.

floods

FLOODS ARE TEMPORARY INUNDATION OF

LARGE REGIONS AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN

RESERVOIR, OR OF RIVERS FLOODING THEIR BANKS BECAUSE OF HEAVY RAINS, HIGH WINDS,

CYCLONES, STORM SURGE ALONG COAST ,

TSUNAMI, MELTING OF SNOW OR DAM BURST.

cyclones

Cyclones are violent storms, often of vast extent, characterized by high winds rotating about a calm center of low atmospheric

pressure. This center moves onward, often with a velocity of 50km

an hour.

An earthquake is a sudden release of energy accumulated in

deformed rocks causing the ground to tremble or shake.

landslides

Landslides are slippery masses of rock , earth or debris which

move by force of their own weight down mountain slope or river

banks.

Drought is a climatic anomaly, characterized by

deficient supply of moisture resulting either from

sub-normal rainfall, erratic rainfall distribution, higher water need or a combination of all the

factors.

DISASTER OCCURRENCE

BETWEEN 1995 and 2004 World distribution of disasaters triggered by natural disasters

VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS EARTHQUAKES AND TSUNAMIS AVALANCHES

WAVE SURGE LANDSLIDES DROUGHT AND RELATED DISASTERS

WIND STORM FLOODS INSECT INFESTATION

EPIDEMIC

LOCATION

OF

FLOOD

HAZARDS

LOCATION OF EARTHQUAKE

ZONES OF INDIA:-

LOCATION OF Seismic

Activity in India

180 AD - 2004

57% land is vulnerable to earthquakes. Of these, 12% is vulnerable to severe earthquakes.

68% land is vulnerable to drought.

12% land is vulnerable to floods.

8% land is vulnerable to cyclones.

Apart from natural disasters, some cities in India are also vulnerable to chemical and industrial disasters and man-made disasters.

36%

5%8%

43%

8%

quantity of land is vulnerable

earthquake Cyclone floods drought industrial disasters

Moving away from the Great Bengal famine of 1769-1770 in which a third of the population perished.

The Chalisa famine of 1783, the Doji Bara or Skull famine of 1790 to 1792, the North West Provinces famine of 1838, the North West India Famine of 1861, the Bengal and Orissa famine of 1866, the Rajputana famine of 1869, the famine of 1899 to 1901, the Bengal famine of 1943…

The drought years of 1965, 1972, 1979, 1987, 2002

Impacts of disaster

At times, the impact of disasters occurring in one State may spread over to the areas of other States. Similarly, preventive measures in respect of certain disasters, such as floods, etc may be required to be taken in one State, as the impact of their occurrence may affect another. The administrative hierarchy of the country is organized into the national, state and district level administrations. This presents some difficulties in respect of disasters impacting more than one State. Management of such situations calls for a coordinated approach, which can respond to a range of issues quite different from those that normally present themselves – before, during and after the event. NDMA will encourage identification of such situations and promote the establishment of mechanisms on the lines of Mutual Aid Agreement for coordinated strategies for dealing with them by the states and central ministries, departments and other agencies concerned

Flood have been a recurrent phenomenon I n

india With more than 12 percent of the total land

area prone to floods , it is necessary to take

adequate structural and non-structural mitigation

measures.

Floods can happen both gradually , taking hours,

or suddenly due to breach of the water control

structures, spill over or heavy downpour caused in

the region.

IMPACT OF DISASTER

CAUSED DUE TO FLOOD

WHAT IS VULNERABILITY?

Vulnerability is the condition determined by physical , social , economics and environmental factors or processes , which increases the susceptibility of a community to the Impact of hazards.

During the Gujarat earthquake {2001} , for example , people living in the old city of Bhuj with narrow roads , newly-constructed unsafe high-rise buildings and a high density of population faced more injuries And lose of life during the earthquake , than those living In the suburbs . The people in subrubs had broader roads and single buildings and a lower density of population, which helped quick exit from falling buildings during the earthquake. Thus, we can say that people living in the old city of Bhuj were more vulnerable than those living in suburbs.

Among those who are more vulnerable to disasters are people who are socially and economically under-privileged. [for example, people living in low lying areas are prone to floods which thereby damage their houses and affect their livelihood.] Lack resources also limits their ability to respond and cope with the disaster. In the terms of vulnerability , young children , elderly , physically challenged are the ones who are likely to be affected more.

REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION

The operations and decisions taken after a disaster with a view to restore an affected

community to its former living conditions, while encouraging and facilitating the

necessary adjustments to the changes caused by the disasater.

Nodal Agencies for Disaster

Management Floods : Ministry of Water Resources, CWC

Cyclones : Indian Meteorological Department

Earthquakes : Indian Meteorological Department

Epidemics : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Avian Flu: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

Chemical Disasters : Ministry of Environment and Forests

Industrial Disasters : Ministry of Labour

Rail Accidents : Ministry of Railways

Air Accidents : Ministry of Civil Aviation

Fire : Ministry of Home Affairs

Nuclear Incidents : Department of Atomic Energy

Mine Disasters : Department of Mines

Made by – vivek bhatt

Subject – S.S.t.

ROLL NO. – B/27