disaster

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  • Dust Storm:

  • meteorological phenomenon, which constitutes a strong, turbulent wind that carries clouds of fine dust, soil and sand over a large stretch, up to 500 meters above the land mainly in arid and semi‐arid regions.

  • Reasons for increased frequency:

  • • Excessive heating: High surface temperatures induce low pressure, which attracts high speed winds in the Northern region of India.

  • • Lesser soil moisture: Higher amount of heat reduces the net precipitation, which in turn increases the vulnerability of dry soil and increases the population of dust grains in the air in the event of high speed winds.



  • • Inter‐regional transfer: Massive dust and sand storm over Middle East acts as the source region for dust storms in India. This coupled with cold winds from the Western Disturbance makes the atmosphere unstable, ultimately triggering a dusty cyclonic circulation in northern plains.

  • • Mismanagement of dryland areas: Through practices such as commercial agriculture the soil loses its composure and erosion aids the formation of large scale dust storms.

  • • Climate change: coupled with other reasons such as drought, mismanagement of water and abandonment of agricultural lands amplifies the effect.

  • Impacts of dust storms:

  • • Farmer distress by damaging mud houses, standing crops and decreasing the productivity of livestock

  • • Change salinity patterns across different areas, thus affecting the marine ecology. Ex‐ dust particles from Iran, Pakistan and India have an impact on the salinity profile in the Arabian Sea.

  • • Increase in airborne infections. For instance, virus spores present on the ground are blown away in the air and spread through acid rain or urban smog.

  • • Threaten human population with Keratoconjunctivitis sicca or 'dry eyes', which, if left untreated, may lead to visual impairment or blindness.

  • • Disruption of essential services such as increased power cuts, delayed railways operations, traffic snarls etc.

  • • Largest contributor to air pollution as inhaling dust affects the respiratory system. In extreme cases, prolonged exposure to dust can cause silicosis, even leading to lung cancer.

  • Disaster

  • Study by UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) globally a quarter of the damage suffered because of natural disasters is borne by the agriculture sector in developing countries.

  • Vulnerability of agriculture sector :

  • Disasters like heavy torrential rainfall and flood, to increased soil erosion, declining rangeland quality, salinization of soils, deforestation and biodiversity loss.

  • • Frequent frost bites in hilly regions and states like U.P. and Maharashtra

  • • 22% of all damage inflicted by natural hazards such as drought, floods, storms or tsunamis occurs in the agriculture sector.

  • • In developing countries, 83 percent of crop and livestock production losses occurred after floods and droughts.

  • • Fisheries & forestry cumulatively account for around 8% of the economic impact of losses caused by disasters.

  • • Rural and semi‐rural agricultural communities lack insurance and financial resources

  • • Any kind of disaster impacts agricultural trade flows.

  • • Wider impact of disasters on agro industries, national economies and livelihoods.

  • • Damage and losses to the agriculture sector accumulate as a result of recurring disasters (Decrease agri growth)

  • • Drought – agriculture land, livestock

  • Strengthening resilience

  • Understanding the impact of different types of disasters is crucial to ensure that the most appropriate policies and practices are implemented.

  • • Floods cause more than half of the damage to crops,

  • • livestock are disproportionately affected by droughts,

  • • Fisheries by tsunamis & storms etc.

  • • Different disasters require different responses.

  • • Improving information systems on disaster impact for the agriculture sector to address the significant data gaps at the global, regional, national levels.

  • Implementation and monitoring of the three main international agendas which recognize resilience as fundamental to their achievement:

  • • Sustainable Development Goals SDGs,specifically SDG2

  • • Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–

  • 2030;

  • • Universal Climate Change Agreement

  • • Implementation of innovative risk management tools, such as weather risk insurance schemes for agriculture and rural livelihoods.

  • • Making agriculture disaster risk reduction a priority for government and private sector investment in agriculture.

  • National governments and the international community ‐ come together to prevent and mitigate the significant impact of disasters on agriculture by implementing the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture. Further, the crops should be grown according to the local climate to increase the resilience of the agricultural sector.

  • Land Use and Disaster:

  • • Land use pattern has undergone transformation due to impact of urbanization and population explosion.

  • • Economic development has resulted in divergence of agricultural and forest land to industrial and infrastructural activities. Changes in land use pattern have brought associated ecological changes also.

  • • Major population agglomerations are located in hazardprone areas—along coasts or on floodplains etc ‐increases the exposure of urban populations and physical assets to flooding, storm surges, land movement, tsunami etc.

  • • In coastal areas, mangroves are natural barriers against strong wind and storm surge. However, cutting of mangroves on eastern coast for aquaculture has increased the exposure to severe land falling cyclones.

  • • In Mumbai, replacement of rich mangrove ecosystems with hazardous construction led to 2005 floods. Chennai floods of 2015 and floods in Bengaluru and Hyderabad have also shown that a haphazard land use change without appropriate attention to ever disappearing drainage system has led to disasters.

  • • Unplanned development pattern and uncontrolled urban sprawl without appropriate escape routes turn minor incidents into disaster. E.g. Frequent fires in slums and urban areas of Mumbai.

  • • Major floods in Uttarakhand in 2014 and Kashmir were result of unregulated building practices and unplanned development encroaching the river bed.

  • Thus, National Disaster Management Plan, 2016 needs to be earnestly implemented for significant outcomes as it calls for vulnerability analysis along with remedial measures.

  • Disaster Management Act, 2005:

  • imp mile stone, emphasizes prevention, mitigation of the effects of disasters through a holistic, coordinated and prompt response.

  • The current status of implementation of provisions

  • Many institutions have been established under this Act. These have helped Orissa in successfully handling the Cyclone Fani .

  • • all states have State Disaster Management Plan.

  • • National Disaster Response Force has established itself as a visible and reliable response force to provide specialist response during disasters

  • Issues in the implementation of Disaster Management Act:

  • • All States and UTs have created State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) but with the exception of a few, most exist as a mere formality in the form of a committee.

  • • Seven states (including Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat etc.) failed in implementing DM Act in order to handle natural catastrophe.

  • • States failed to constitute advisory committees on disaster management preparedness as well as state disaster response force.

  • • National executive committee to monitor the implementation of disaster management guidelines meets infrequently even in the case of disasters.

  • • NDMA failed to publish annual reports and update plans regularly. No major project taken up by NDMA had seen completion so far.

  • • lack of functional integration among concerned agencies.

  • • National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) has not been set up.

  • Suggested measures:

  • Clear delineation of roles of different agencies to increase efficiency.

  • • Empowering NDMA to enable it to discharge its responsibilities more effectively.

  • • Setting up a cadre of disaster management professionals and expanding their training facilities. Moving from simple forecasting to impact forecasting.

  • • Implementing new Disaster Management Plan and providing minimum standards of relief to affected people.

  • The NDMA, 2005 required to have disaster management plans at the district, state and the National levels. Each ministry is also required to prepare separate plans in accordance with the National level plan. The first National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) has been introduced by the government to make the country disaster resilient and ensure minimization of loss of lives and assets during disasters. It has been aligned with the objectives set by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Salient features of the plan:

  • • It gives a comprehensive definition of disaster. It covers 15 natural and man‐made disasters, giving responsibility to different ministries for different disasters. For e.g., Tsunamis and Cyclones under M o Earth Sciences.

  • • Planning for short (5), medium (10), and long (15 years) terms to deal with disasters.

  • • Integrated approach with clarity: Provisions for vertical and horizontal integration among government agencies have been stated, including the roles of Urban Local Bodies, Panchayats and district agencies to ensure that response during disasters is initiated at the regional level.

  • • It is designed in a way that it can be implemented in a scalable manner during all phases of DM.

  • • Community participation and building of resilience has been recognised.

  • • states ethical guidelines for the media for coverage of disasters and self‐regulation to respect the dignity and privacy of the affected people.

  • • It is a dynamic document, which will be periodically improved keeping up with emerging global practices.

  • However, the plan may fall short of its stated objective of building resilience.

  • • Unlike the Sendai framework, it does not set targets and goals and there is no framework for monitoring and evaluation of the plan.

  • • A generic roadmap has been adopted for disaster management, but, division of work among tiers of government has not been specifically stated. It can lead to overlap of jurisdiction during disasters. Similarly, interministerial coordination should be specified.

  • • Source and means of mobilization of funds have not been stated. Further, there is no avenue for preestimation of expenditure. Both need to be appraised for proper planning.

  • • Additionally, the plan does not focus on specific problems faced by women, children, elderly, disabled people etc., vulnerable groups worst hit by disasters.

  • • A properly demarcated time frame should be provided for undertaking the stated activities instead of a vague prescription of short, medium and long‐term basis.

  • Due to paucity of resources at state and district level, the responsibility falls on the central government. Therefore, it would be better to incorporate a framework or to give guidelines to states regarding issues such as sources of funds (like CSR), care for special needs of different sections, a long term plan for providing alternative livelihoods, etc.

  • Every hazard is unique in terms of local socio‐environment factors that control it, social response it generates and the way each social group deals with it. Being the closest institution of the state to the people, local governments have a greater responsibility to take all possible efforts in order to prepare for a disaster or to respond to it.

  • Its efforts clubbed with local knowledge about resources, facilities and support systems and capacity possessed by local community are crucial in disaster management.

  • Role of the local community and local bodies

  • Pre‐Disaster Phase:

  • • Mapping of Resources and Facilities.

  • Identifying temporary locations for keeping evacuated persons, storage of food, drinking water, medicines, etc., availability of necessary equipment and its status like tractors, trolleys etc., list of professionals like doctors, nurses, electricians, plumbers, etc., and, list of emergency items to be procured.

  • • Vulnerability Mapping of locality and update vulnerability profile of area at regular intervals.

  • • Evacuation Plan with priority for children, women, sick, aged and differently abled.

  • • Directory of blood donors and youth volunteers, with contact address and ensure their status at regular intervals.

  • • Disaster Management Cell (DMC) at local level. Each member of DMC assigned with specific responsibilities.

  • • Capacity building of different stakeholders at regular intervals.

  • • Awareness about risks through folk programmes, displays at community gatherings, slides in cinemas etc.

  • Disaster Phase:

  • • 24 x 7 emergency control rooms.

  • • Collect field data from nodal persons, verify the information, collate them and communicate the same to Block and District administration.

  • • All communications, incoming and out‐going, channelized through a single point at DMC.

  • • Convene an emergency meeting of functionaries of all political, non‐political and community based

  • organisations.

  • • Community kitchen at an appropriate place for ensuring food to all those affected.

  • • Co‐ordinate efforts and activities of government institutions, NGOs, private sector and community based organisations.

  • In the coastal villages of Nallavadu and Veerampattinam in the Union Territory of Pondicherry, a Public Address System (PAS) installed in their ‘Rural Knowledge Centres’ saved thousands of lives when the tsunami struck on 26th December, 2004.

  • Post‐Disaster Phase:

  • Provision of basic needs like drinking water, food,

  • clothes, utensils, etc.

  • • Construction of temporary shelters and sanitary facilities at suitable sites.

  • • Regular visits by Health workers to all parts of the locality.

  • • Restoring livelihood assets like roads and infrastructure in locality.

  • • Co‐ordinate activities of government departments, NGOs and community based organisations for providing livelihood support for affected families.

  • • Provide psycho‐social care to needy, to enable them to get over traumatic period. Restoring education and other basic services to citizens.

  • NDMP, 2016 especially emphasises on building community resilience and capacity building of local government to effectively deal with disaster.

  • Drought

  • Def: reduction in the amount of precipitation over an extended period of time.

  • • Other factors such as high temperatures, high winds

  • & low relative humidity

  • • Also over use overuse & overpopulation.

  • Different types of drought:

  • • Meteorological Drought: Rainfall <75%

  • • Hydrological Drought: Stream flow are inadequate to supply required amt.

  • • Agricultural Drought: soil moisture inadequate for healthy crop growth

  • • Socio‐Economic Drought: affects economy & society, creates unemployment, migration, discontent & other problems

  • • Ecological drought: deficit in naturally available & managed water supplies.

  • Environmental Impacts of Drought:

  • • Moisture Stress; Drinking Water Shortage

  • • Damage to Vegetation & Various Ecosystems

  • • Increased stress on endangered species.

  • • Increased Air & Water Pollution

  • • Soil erosion & decline in soil quality

  • Societal Impacts of Drought:

  • • Malnutrition; Poor Hygiene; Ill Health

  • • Reduced incomes; Migration

  • • Increased Stress & Morbidity

  • • Social Strife; Decline in recreation

  • Factors that aggravate Drought Distress:

  • • Aridity of the area & Low Soil Moisture

  • • Shortage of farm inputs ex fodder for livestock

  • • Lack of resources including credit on reasonable terms

  • • Non‐availability of alternate seeds

  • • Short supply of electric power & diesel oil for ground water pumpset.

  • • Poor or non‐existent medical help for needy

  • • Unsuitable cropping patterns

  • • Unsustainable irrigation methods




  • • Lack of financial instruments like crop & livestock insurance.




  • Technology in Disaster Risk Management:

  • • Described in Hyogo Framework guidelines.

  • • Satellites & remote sensing: Helps in information in all stages of disaster.

  • • Geographical Information System (GIS): Helps in scientific management & policy oriented info.

  • • Wireless communication: It has helped in faster transfer of information in real time.

  • • Early warning systems: Helps in notifying people & evacuating them.

  • Challenges in Application of Technological solutions:

  • • Cross‐sectoral integration of technology linking DRR, Climate change & SD.

  • • Lack of understanding the basic principles of effective early warning systems.

  • • Limitations in exploiting local innovation.

  • • Language barrier for efficient communication.

  • • Limited resources for funding R&D, by all institutions & at all levels.

  • • The high cost of some S&T systems, which inhibits accessibility & effective application.

  • • limited capacity of vulnerable communities to use available S&T products.

  • • Limitations of technology in predicting disasters. E.g. earthquake

  • • Relevant policies & institutional frameworks for further use of S&T in disaster management.

  • • NDMP with specific plans for use of S&T.

  • Stampedes

  • Definition: A stampede is uncontrolled concerted running as an act of mass impulse, often in an attempt to escape a perceived threat.

  • Generally, at places of mass gathering: Ex: Uphaar Cinema'97,

  • Sabrimala stampede '99, Railway Station Allahabad '13,

  • Elphinstone bridge, Mumbai

  • Causes of stampede

  • Structural factors

  • • Collapse of the temporary structure, steep stairs, & narrow exits

  • • Fire in makeshift facility, unauthorized firecrackers, electric failure etc.

  • Poor crowd control measures:

  • • Crowd Control: Underestimation of audience, limited holding area before entrance.

  • • Crowd Behaviour: Collision between large inward & outward flows.

  • • Security: Under deployment of security personnel, lack of training & planning.

  • • Lack of coordination between stakeholders: & agencies like police, fire services, PWD etc.

  • • better infrastructure & effective crowd control measures should be focus.

  • NDMA Guidelines:

  • Medical services

  • • Generic safety & security guidelines

  • • Fire, electrical & structural safety guidelines

  • • Traffic management guidelines

  • • Guidelines on Incident report system. Other Steps

  • • Capacity Planning: Short & long term planning for infrastructural development & crowd management.

  • • Staging points for visitors, counting & monitoring visitors, having multiple routes at crowded locations, etc.

  • • Understanding crowd behaviour: Crowd behavior can influence individual behaviour.

  • • Community based crowd control must replace force based control. Miscreants should be immediately identified & quarantined.

  • • Crowd Control: Managing demand & supply gap in terms of crowd inflow.

  • All stakeholders must rethink crowd management & encourage community stakeholders to take ownership in the event.

  • Industrial disaster

  • Industrial Disaster is a type of disaster originating from technological or industrial accidents, dangerous procedures, infrastructural failure and certain human activities results in loss of life or injury, damage to property, or environmental degradation.

  • From 2003‐2013, 130 chemical accidents in India. Example:

  • Chlorine gas leak in Jam shedpur (2008), Mining collapses, Blast at NTPC Rae Bareli, Methyl Iso‐cyanate gas leak in 1984 from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal

  • Legal Framework:

  • Pre‐Bhopal Gas tragedy era: Factories Act, 1948 & the

  • Explosives Act, 1884.

  • Post Bhopal tragedy:

  • • Factories Act 1948 was amended to extend the scope of risk to cover general public in the vicinity of the factory.

  • • EPA 1986, was enacted enlisting the provisions for management of hazardous waste.

  • • Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 provides for immediate & interim relief to disaster victims.

  • • National Environment Tribunal (1995) for effective disposal of cases arising out of any.

  • • Chemical Accidents Rules 1996, Hazardous Wastes Rules, 2008 etc. are also aimed at mitigating the effects.

  • • Disaster Management Act, 2005, for effective management of natural & man‐made disasters

  • • Setting up of NGT under NGT Act 2010, Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 etc.

  • Institutional Framework:

  • A number of regulations covering safety in transportation, insurance, liability & compensations provide for institutional framework.

  • • various central ministries & departments for enacting & supervising regulations e.g. MHA, MoEF, MoLE, MoRT&H, MoH&FW among others.

  • • Under the Disaster Management Act to reduce disaster risk at all its stages: NDMA, SDMA, DDMA, NDRF, NIDM and NEC.

  • Thus, India has the necessary legal & institutional mechanism to mitigate effects of Industrial disasters, but robust enforcement of the same is required.

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