Disaster

Disaster is a very common phenomenon for humanity. Human beings

have experienced disasters in different forms since time immemorial. People

are becoming more and more vulnerable to disasters of all types, which

include earthquakes, floods, cyclones, landslides, droughts, accidents, plane

crashes, forest fires, etc. Of all the disasters, floods are the most common,

followed by windstorms, droughts and earthquakes. However, drought is the

deadliest, accounting to 48% of deaths. Of all the continents, Asia has the

highest number of death toll from disasters. India, China and Bangladesh

are situated in the Asian continent.

India, due to its geographical location and geological formation, is highly

prone to disasters. Its long coastline, snow-clad peaks and high mountain

ranges and the perennial rivers in the north, combine to add to this problem.

India, which has only 2% of the total geographic area, has to support 18%

of the total population of the world. Therefore, there is tremendous pressure

on the natural resources, which directly or indirectly leads to the occurrence

of disasters namely, floods, droughts, landslides, earthquakes, etc.

The northern region of India faces problems due to landslides, floods,

droughts and earthquakes. The eastern region is confronted with heavy

floods in the perennial rivers which include the Brahmaputra, the Ganga,

etc. Drought, heatwaves, hailstorms, cyclones, heavy winds and

earthquakes are also common in this region. The north-eastern region

encounters floods, landslides, and earthquakes. The western region is

widely known for severe droughts, wind erosion of land and soil, floods and

cyclones. This area is also prone to earthquakes. The southern region,

particularly the coastal region, is vulnerable to cyclones, sea erosion, tsunami, and landslides. The islands of Andaman & Nicobar and

Lakshadweep are confronted with the problems of sea erosion and tsunami.

The Indian coastal areas have faced some of the severest cyclones both

along the eastern and western coasts.

Among all the disasters in India, the tsunami is a relatively new

phenomenon. Due to the lack of an adequate warning system, the tsunami

of 2004 devastated a large portion of the coastal regions of T.N., A.P. and

Kerala, besides the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It claimed a large number

of lives and destroyed property worth crores of rupees.

India has faced a number of disasters, ranging from natural disasters like

floods, earthquakes, cyclones, etc. to man-made disasters like the Bhopal

Gas Tragedy (1984). During this century, India has witnessed some major

disasters which include the Gujarat earthquake (2001), the Mumbai-Gujarat

floods (2005), the tsunami (2004), the Uttarakhand flashfloods and the

hurricane Phailin in coastal Orissa and A.P. (2013).

The direct and Indirect impacts of disasters, either natural or industrial,

are always damage, destruction and death. When disaster strikes, the

lifeline support systems, namely communication, power and water supply,

etc. are damaged. Moreover, healthcare and hospitals are also put under

severe stress. Commercial and economic activities are also badly affected.

Life almost comes to a standstill. The psychological traumas caused by the

disasters are sometimes so severe that they span the whole life of the

victim. Therefore, along with other rehabilitation works, psychological

rehabilitation should also be given due importance.

In some natural disasters like cyclones, tsunami and earthquake, it is the

building structure which becomes the cause of destruction and death. In

developing countries, only 30% of the buildings are constructed in

accordance with the regulations laid down for ensuring safety and security. Similarly, the lack of a master-plan and the use of inferior quality goods also

aggravate the casualties arising out of disasters. Therefore, both private and

public buildings should be constructed according to the guidelines prescribed

by the law. Moreover, constructions should strictly adhere to the master-

plan approved by the authorities. Above all, good quality materials should

be used for construction.

The UNDAC (United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination),

along with the Govt. of India, has jointly prepared an action-plan for cities

and towns vulnerable to earthquakes. In vulnerable areas, the existing

buildings should be technically assessed and individual owners and group-

housing authorities should be informed about the weaknesses in their

construction. Presently, it is estimated that around 1 million buildings are

constructed every year in India, and an equal number of them gets damaged

as a result of disasters. In order to reduce the damage to buildings, a

monitoring mechanism should be set up in disaster prone areas which must

act in proper coordination with the concerned authorities to ensure the

fulfilment of building codes.

The State Govts. Play a vital role while the Central Govt. only plays a

facilitating role in disaster management. At the state level, there is a State

Level Disaster Management Committee consisting of the senior secretaries

of various depts. And the representatives of NGOs. At the national level,

there is a Crisis Management Committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary

and the secretaries from the major depts. of the govt. The central govt.,

with proper coordination with various ministries, provides necessary support

to the states like air dropping, rescuing, searching, transport of relief goods,

etc., and availability of rail and ferry services, health personnel and medical

support. Rehabilitation is an integral part of disaster management because it helps

affected people and communities return to normal life after a disaster. It

includes restoring basic services, rebuilding houses and infrastructure, and

supporting the physical, social, and economic recovery of victims. Major

aspects of rehabilitation are restoration of basic needs, reconstruction of

infrastructure, economic and social rehabilitation, psychological support and

building resilience. There should be proper coordination among the various

depts. of the govt. to bring speedy relief to the victim. Moreover, the rescue

teams require the learning of special skills and attitudes in dealing with

disasters. Additionally, they need to be well-equipped with the latest

technologies. Thus, rehabilitation is an essential stage of disaster

management as it helps communities recover, rebuild their lives and become

better prepared for future disasters.

Disaster management has assumed greater importance in recent times.

The whole purpose of disaster management is not to prevent these natural

or man-made disasters. We may not be able to avert many of these

disasters, but we can definitely mitigate their impact.