Disaster Management

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Contents
03 10 14 16
chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 3 chapter 4
Disaster and Earthquakes Tsunami Tropical Cyclone
Disaster
Management
19 22 25 27
Floods Drought Landslides Industrial and
Chemical Disasters
1
29 31 33 35
Biological Disasters Lightning Desert Locust Slow Onset
Disasters
37 39 42 50
Urban Flooding Epidemic / Institutional International
Pandemic Framework Cooperation
57
chapter 17
Important aspects
of Disaster
Management
2
1 Disaster and Disaster
Management
Disaster is an event or series of events, which gives

rise to casualties and damage or loss of properties,
infrastructures, environment, essential services or
means of livelihood on such a scale which is beyond
the normal capacity of the affected community to
cope with.
The United Nations defines disaster as “the

occurrence of sudden or major misfortune which
disrupts the basic fabric and normal functioning of
the society or community”.
India’s geo-climatic conditions as well as its high

degree of socio-economic vulnerability, makes it one
of the most disaster prone countries in the world.
Distinction between that shape people’s that overwhelms
that community’s capacity to cope). In
Hazard and Disaster other words, the impact of the disaster

is determined by the extent of a
community’s vulnerability to the hazard.
• “Strictly speaking, there is no such This vulnerability is not natural. It is the
thing as a natural disaster, but there human dimension of disasters, the result
are natural hazards, such as cyclones of the whole range of economic, social,
and earthquakes. The difference cultural, institutional, political lives and
between a hazard and a disaster is create the environment that they live
an important one. A disaster takes in.” - Source: Twigg, J. 2001. (Extracted
place when a community is affected from Living with Risk, A global review
by a hazard (usually defined as an of disaster reduction initiatives 2004
event and even psychological factors version)
Hazard Disaster
It is a calamity or tragedy or a consequence

A hazard is a dangerous physical condition of a hazard. Natural hazards that cause
or event. great loss to human life and economy are
called disasters.
Floods, volcanic eruption, droughts etc. are It causes damage to property and loss of
called natural hazards before they cause life but it also disrupts the opportunities of
great loss of life and damage to property. employment.
Small number of people are effected A large number of people are effected
Classification of
Disaster
Human-Made Disaster
• Disasterscan be natural disasters or
• Human Made disasters are disasters
human-made disasters.
that are caused as a direct result of
Natural Disaster human action.
• Natural disasters are large-scale • Fire, epidemics, road, air, rail accidents
geological or meteorological events and leakages of chemicals/ nuclear
that have the potential to cause loss of installations etc. fall under the category
life or property. of human-made disasters.
The High Power Committee on Disaster
• Earthquake, cyclone, hailstorm, cloud-
Management, constituted in 1999, has
burst, landslide, soil erosion, snow
identified 3 various disasters categorized
avalanche, flood etc. are the examples
into five major sub-groups.
of natural disasters.
4
Classification of Natural Disasters
Water and Geological Chemical, Accident Biological

climate related related industrial and related related
Disasters disasters nuclear disasters disasters
related
disasters
− Floods and − Landslides - Chemical − Forest fires − Biological

drainage and and industrial − Urban fires disasters
anagement mudflows disasters and
− Mine epidemics
− Cyclones − Earthquakes - Nuclear flooding
− Tornadoes − Dam failures disasters − Pest attacks
− Oil spills
and − Minor fires − Cattle
hurricanes − Major epidemics
building
− ailstorm collapse − Food
− Cloud burst poisoning
− Serial bomb
− Heat wave blasts
and cold − Festival
wave related
− Snow disasters
avalanches − Electrical
− Droughts disasters &
− Sea erosion fires
− Thunder − Air, road

and and rail
lightning accidents
− Tsunami − Boat
capsizing
− Village fire
Disaster » Mitigation or reduction of risk of any

disaster or its severity or consequences.
Management » Capacity building including research
• Disaster Management involves a and knowledge management.
continuous and integrated process » Preparedness to deal with any disaster.
of planning, organising, coordinating » Prompt response to any threatening
and implementing measures which are disaster situation or disaster.
necessary or expedient for:
» Assessing the severity or magnitude of
» Prevention of danger or threat of any effect of any disaster.
disaster.
5
» Evacuation, rescue and relief. • Prevention: Activities aimed at trying
» Rehabilitation and reconstruction. to prevent future disasters occurring,
such as building dykes or a dam to
Disaster control flooding.
Management Cycle • Mitigation: Activities aimed at trying

to mitigate the impact of a disaster
The concept of Disaster Management Cycle if prevention is not possible, such as
integrates isolated attempts on the part of building schools to be more earthquake
different government and non-government resistant.
actors, towards vulnerability reduction or
• Preparedness: Activities aimed at
disaster mitigation, within the enveloping
trying to prepare communities for a
domain of disaster management, as
disaster, such as emergency drills or
phases occurring in different time periods
pre-stocking relief items in logistic hubs.
in disaster management continuum,
though essentially relating to/comprising • Response: The response phase
disaster management. includes the mobilization of the
This has facilitated a planned approach to necessary emergency services and
disaster management in that post- disaster first responders in the disaster area.
recovery and pre -disaster mitigation This is likely to include a first wave of
planning is perceived as integrated/ core emergency services, such as fire-
related activities and not separate. Thus, fighters, police and ambulance crews.
prevention, mitigation and preparedness • Recovery: The aim of the recovery
form pre-disaster activities in the Disaster phase is to restore the affected area
Management Cycle and, response, to its previous state. It differs from the
recovery are post-disaster activities. response phase in its focus; recovery
efforts are concerned with issues and
Pre-disaster Post-disaster decisions that must be made after
activities: activities: immediate needs are addressed.
• Prevention • Response Recovery efforts are primarily
• Mitigation • Recovery concerned with actions that involve
rebuilding destroyed property, re-
• reparedness employment, and the repair of other
essential infrastructure.
Recovery may be further segregated as:
Disaster Management Cycle
• Rehabilitation: Includes provision of
temporary public utilities and housing
Disaster as interim measures to assist long term
Impact
recovery.
Preparedness Relief / Response

• Reconstruction: Includes
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
construction of damaged infrastructure

RISK MANAGEMENT
Recovery and habitats and enabling sustainable

Mitigation livelihoods.
Rehabilitation
Prevention
Reconstruction
Development
6
Vulnerability to individuals, communities and nations
The poor are usually more vulnerable
disaster to disasters because they lack the

resources to build sturdy structures
Vulnerability describes the characteristics and put other engineering measures in
and circumstances of a community, system place to protect themselves from being
or asset that make it susceptible to the negatively impacted by disasters. E.g.
damaging effects of a hazard. There are Poorer families may live in squatter
many aspects of vulnerability to disaster, settlements because they cannot afford
arising from various physical, social, to live in safer (more expensive) areas.
economic, and environmental factors. • Environmental Vulnerability:
Factors determining Natural resource depletion and
resource degradation are key aspects
vulnerability to a disaster event: of environmental vulnerability. E.g.
• Physical Vulnerability may be Wetlands, such as the Caroni Swamp,
determined by aspects such as are sensitive to increasing salinity from
population density levels, remoteness sea water, and pollution from storm
of a settlement, the site, design and water runoff containing agricultural
materials used for critical infrastructure chemicals, eroded soils, etc.
and for housing (UNISDR). E.g. Wooden
homes are less likely to collapse in an Disasters – Indian
earthquake but are more vulnerable to
fire.
Scenario
• Social Vulnerability refers to the • India has been vulnerable, in varying
inability of people, organizations and degrees, to a large number of natural,
societies to withstand adverse impacts to as well as human-made disasters on
hazards due to characteristics inherent account of its unique geo-climatic and
in social interactions, institutions and socio-economic conditions.
systems of cultural values. It is linked • It is highly vulnerable to floods, droughts,
to the level of wellbeing of individuals, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides,
communities and society. It includes avalanches and forest fires.
aspects related to levels of literacy • As far as the vulnerability to disaster
and education, the existence of peace is concerned, the five distinctive regions
and security, access to basic human of the country i.e. Himalayan region,
rights, systems of good governance, the alluvial plains, the hilly part of the
social equity, positive traditional peninsula, and the coastal zone have
values, customs and ideological beliefs their own specific problems.
and overall collective organizational
systems (UNISDR). E.g. When flooding » Himalayan region is prone to disasters
occurs some citizens, such as children, like earthquakes and landslides,
elderly and differently-able, may
» Plain is affected by floods almost every
be unable to protect themselves or
year,
evacuate if necessary.
» Desert part of the country is affected
by droughts and famine,
• Economic Vulnerability: The level » Coastal zone is susceptible to cyclones
of vulnerability is highly dependent and storms.
upon the economic status of
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• India is one of the ten worst disaster compounded by increasing
prone countries of the world. vulnerabilities related to changing
• 58.6% landmass of Indiais prone to demographic and socio-economic
earthquakes of moderate to very high conditions, unplanned urbanization,
intensity; 12% land is prone to flood and development within high-risk zones,
river erosion; out of 7,516 km coastline, environmental degradation, climate
5,700 km is prone to cyclones and change, geological hazards, epidemics
tsunamis; 68% of the cultivable land is and pandemics.
vulnerable to drought, hilly areas are at • The management of disasters in
risk from landslides and avalanches, and India is governed legally by the
15% of landmass is prone to landslides. Disaster Management Act 2005 and
A total of 5,161 Urban Local Bodies the guidelines given by the National
(ULBs) are prone to urban flooding Disaster Management Authority (a
• The hazard vulnerability of the country statutory authority under the DM Act
finds a face when we look at the major 2005) which are specifically described
disasters of the country from 1980- in the subsequent sections.
2010. During this period of 30 years the
country has been hit by approximately
25 major disasters apart from the heat
Central Agencies
wave, cold wave and heavy winds
affecting some areas of the country.
designated for
• Disaster risks in India are further Natural Hazards
Hazard Agency
Avalanches Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE)
Cyclone India Meteorological Department (IMD)
Drought Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW)
Earthquake India Meteorological Department (IMD)
Epidemics Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
Floods Central Water Commission (CWC)
Landslides Geological Survey of India (GSI)
India National Centre for Oceanic Information

Tsunami
Services (INCOIS)
8
Nodal Ministries for
different disasters
Disaster Ministry
Air Accidents Ministry of Civil Aviation
Civil Strife Ministry of Home Affairs
Railway Accidents Ministry of Railways
Ministry of Environment Ministry of

Chemical Disasters
Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Biological Disaster Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Nuclear Accident inside or outside the

country which poses health or other Department of Atomic Energy
hazards to people in India
Major breakdown of any of the Essential

Services posing widespread and protected Concerned Ministries
problems
» (ii) Statistics on relief, rehabilitation and

Disaster Database reconstruction at district level,
• In India, the Ministry of Statistics and

» (iii) District wise compilation of statistics
on disaster,
Programme Implementation have
taken initiatives for collection of data in » (iv) District Wise compilation of
respect of different disasters. statistics on relief, rehabilitation and
reconstruction and
• A Technical Committee was constituted
by the Central Statistics Office with a » (v) Aggregation of damage and relief
view to prepare a framework for disaster data at state level.
statistics for developing a database on
disaster and related aspects. • The State Government and District
level institutions would be required to
• Five formats have been developed for furnish this information for preparing
capturing the information about the database at centralized level.
» (i) Statistics on disaster at district level,
9
2 Earthquakes
An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the

Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in
the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves.
Massive earthquakes generally occur near the

junction of two tectonic plates, e.g., along the
Himalayan range, where the Indian plate goes below
Eurasian plate.
The Indian sub- continent situated on the boundaries

of two continental plates is very prone to earthquakes.
India has been divided into four seismic zones

according to the maximum intensity of earthquake
expected.
• The general basis of the zones is as • According to latest seismic zoning
follows: map brought out by the Bureau of
Indian Standard (BIS), over 65 percent
» Zone V: of the country is prone to earthquake
of intensity Modified Mercalli Intensity
− Covers the areas liable to seismic Scale (MSK) VII or more.
intensity IX and above on MSK
(1964) Intensity scale. • Zone V is the most active which
comprises the whole of Northeast
− This is the most severe seismic zone India, the northern portion of Bihar,
and is referred here as Very High Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K,
Damage Risk Zone. Gujarat and Andaman & Nicobar
Islands. The entire Himalayan Region
» Zone IV: is considered to be vulnerable to high
intensity earthquakes of a magnitude
− Gives the area liable to MSK VIII.
exceeding 8.0 on the Richter Scale.
This zone is second in severity to
zone V. • Most of the areas that can be considered
safe are from the stable landmass
− This is referred to as High Damage
covered under the Deccan plateau.
Risk Zone.
» Zone III:
− The associated intensity is MSK VII.
Effects of
This is termed here as moderate
Damage Risk Zone.
» Zone II: Earthquakes

− The probable intensity is MKS VII. • Earthquakes have disastrous effects on
This zone is referred to as Low the area of their occurrence. Some of
Damage Risk Zone. the important ones are listed
Effects of Earthquakes
On Ground On Manmade Structures On Water
- Fissures
- Cracking
- Settlements
- Slidings - Waves
- Landslides
- Overturning - Hydro-Dynamic Pressure
- Liquefaction
- Buckling - Tsunami
- Earth Pressure
- Collapse
- Possible Chain-effects
11
Earthquake National Building Code (NBC)
• The National Building Code of India
Prevention and (NBC), a comprehensive building code,
Mitigation is a national instrument providing

guidelines for regulating the building
construction activities across the
• Pace of Urbanisation in India has been country.
increasing. Many of the cities and
townships including the national capital • The NBC was first published in 1970
of New Delhi, are located in zones of at the instance of the Planning
high seismic risk. Commission. The revised NBC has now
been brought out as National Building
• Typically, the majority of the Code of India 2005 (NBC 2005).
constructions in these cities are not
earthquake resistant. Regulatory • The salient features of the revised NBC
mechanisms are weak, thus any include meeting the challenges posed
earthquake striking in one of these by natural calamities and reflecting
cities would turn into a major disaster. the state-of-the-art and contemporary
applicable international practices.
• The following measures have been
initiated for prevention and mitigation
of such disasters:
Efforts by Building Materials &
Technology Promotion Council
National Earthquake Risk (BMTPC)
Mitigation Project (NERMP) • The BMTPC undertook projects for
• The proposed project aims at retrofitting of life-line structures for
strengthening the structural and generating awareness among the
nonstructural earthquake mitigation people as well as various government
efforts and reducing the vulnerability agencies about the need and techniques
in the high risk districts prone to of retrofitting.
earthquakes. • The experience on these retrofitted
• Necessary risk mitigation measures buildings is aimed to help people
are proposed to be put in place in the at large and the policy makers in
highly seismic zones. particular in working towards reducing
the vulnerability in case of future
• The proposed components of the earthquakes.
project include techno-legal regime,
institutional strengthening, capacity
building and public awareness etc.
12
13
3 Tsunami
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that cause

the sea-floor to move abruptly resulting in sudden
displacement of ocean water in the form of high
vertical waves are called tsunamis (harbour waves)
or seismic sea waves.
The speed of waves in the ocean depends upon the

depth of water. It is more in the shallow water than
in the ocean deep. As a result of this, the impact of
tsunamis is less over the ocean and more near the
coast where they cause large-scale devastations.
After reaching the coast, the tsunami waves release

enormous energy stored in them and water flows
turbulently onto the land destroying port-cities and
towns, structures, buildings and other settlements.
Since the coastal areas are densely populated the

world over, and these are also centres of intense
human activity, the loss of life and property is likely
to be much higher by a tsunami as compared to
other natural hazards in the coastal areas.
• Tsunamis are frequently observed along • Tree plantation is a cost-effective long-
the Pacific ring of fire, particularly along lasting means of tsunami mitigation in
the coast of Alaska,Japan, Philippines, comparison to the artificial barriers.
and other islands of Southeast Asia, • Some locations of Indian Ocean where
Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Tsunami struck in 2004 remained almost
Lanka, and India etc. intact because the existing coconut
• Unlike other natural hazards, the palms and mangroves trees absorbed
mitigation of hazards created by the tsunami’s energy.
tsunami is difficult, mainly because • The Government of India decided to
of the fact that losses are on a much put in place an Early Warning System
larger scale. for mitigation of such oceanogenic
Tsunami Prevention disasters. Indian National Center for

Ocean Information Services (INCOIS),
and Mitigation Hyderabad was given the responsibility
to coordinate the entire project and
• One of the natural measures which make it operational. The tsunami
could be adopted for mitigating the warning system has been in use since
impact of tsunami is using shoreline the mid-2000s.
tree cover.
15
4 Tropical Cyclone
Tropical cyclones are intense low-pressure areas

confined to the area lying between 30° N and 30°
S latitudes, in the atmosphere around which high
velocity winds blow.
Horizontally, it extends up to 500-1,000 km and

vertically from surface to 12-14 k
• The National Disaster Management
Distribution of Authority (NDMA) has been designated
Tropical Cyclone in as the implementing agency.

• The scheme is regularly monitored by
India NDMA and MHA.
Integrated Coastal Zone
• India has a coastline of about 7516 kms,
it is exposed to nearly 10 percent of the Management Project (ICZMP)
world’s tropical cyclones. • The Government of India under the
• Owing to its peninsular shape aegis of Ministry of Environment and
surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the Forest (MoEF) has launched the ICZMP.
east and the Arabian Sea in the west, the • The objective of the project is
tropical cyclones in India also originate implementation of a comprehensive
in these two important locations. coastal management approach in the
• About 71 percent of this area is in country and piloting the integrated
ten states (Gujarat, Maharashtra, coastal zone management approach
Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, in states of Gujarat, Orissa and West
Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa Bengal.
and West Bengal). The islands of
NDMA guideline
Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep
on cyclone
are also prone to cyclones.
Cyclones Prevention management

and Mitigation • Establishing a state-of-the-art cyclone
• When a cyclone approaches the coast, early warning system (EWS) involving
a risk of serious loss or damage arises observations, predictions, warnings and
from severe winds, heavy rainfall, storm user friendly advisories.
surges and river floods. • Commission the ‘National Disaster
• This results in inundation of human Communication Infrastructure’ (NDCI)
settlements, agricultural fields, to provide dedicated and failsafe
damaging crops and destruction of communications to the National, State
structures created by human beings. and District Disaster Management
Authorities and officials concerned.
The following measures have been
initiated for prevention and mitigation of • Commission “Aircraft Probing of
such disasters: Cyclone (APC) facility” to fill the
critical observational data gaps and
National Cyclone Risk significantly reduce the margin of error
Mitigation Project (NCRMP) in predicting cyclone track, intensity
and landfall.
Initiative
• Implementing the National Cyclone
• The scheme aims to upgrade cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) in all
forecasting, tracking and warning the 13 coastal states and UTs.
systems, build capacity in multi-hazard
risk management and to construct major • Taking up structural mitigation
infrastructures including multi-purpose measures like improving structural
cyclone shelters and embankments. lifeline infrastructure; construction
17
of multi-purpose cyclone shelters and shelterbelts and identification of
and cattle mounds, ensuring cyclone potential zones for expanding bio-
resistant design standards in rural and shield spread based on remote sensing.
urban housing. • Establishing a comprehensive ‘Cyclone
• Expand the warning dissemination Disaster Management Information
outreach by introducing ‘Last Mile System’ (CDMIS) covering all
Connectivity’, using VHF technology. • Set up a ‘National Cyclone Disaster
• Management of coastal zones to Management Institute’ in one of the
include mapping and delineation of coastal states to address.
coastal wetlands, patches of mangroves
18
5 Floods
Inundation of land and human settlements by the rise

of water in the channels and its spill-over presents
the condition of flooding.
Unlike other natural disasters, the causes of floods

are well established.
Characteristics of flood are that floods are relatively

slow in occurrences and often occur in well-identified
regions and within expected time in a year.
• Cause of flood: consequences on the national economy
and society.
» Heavy rainfall for considerably longer
period of time
• Floods do not only destroy valuable
crops every year but these also damage
» Inadequate capacity of rivers to carry physical infrastructure such as roads,
the high flood discharge, rails, bridges and human settlements.
» Landslides blocking streams; • Millions of people are rendered
» Typhoons and cyclones also cause floods. homeless and are also washed down
along with their cattle in the floods.
» Flash floods occur due to high rate
Spread of diseases like cholera, gastro-
of water flow as also due to poor
enteritis, hepatitis and other water-
permeability of the soil.
borne diseases spread in the flood-
Distribution of affected areas.
• However, floods also make a few
Floods in India positive contributions :
• Twenty-three of the 35 states and union » Every year, floods deposit fertile silt
territories in the country are subject over agricultural fields which is good
to floods and RashtriyaBarhAyog for the crops.
(National Flood Commission) identified » Majuli (Assam), the largest riverine
40 million hectares of land as flood- island in the world, is the best example
prone in India. of good paddy crops after the annual
• Assam, West Bengal and Bihar are floods in Brahmaputra.
among the high flood-prone states of
• Control:
India.
• Apart from these, most of the rivers » There should be a master plan for flood
in the northern states like Punjab and control and management for each
Uttar Pradesh, are also vulnerable to flood prone basin.
occasional floods. » Adequate flood-cushion should be
• It has been noticed that states like provided in water storage projects,
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and wherever feasible, to facilitate better
Punjab are also getting inundated in flood management.
recent decades due to flash floods. » In highly flood prone areas, flood
This is partly because of the pattern control should be given overriding
of the monsoon and partly because of consideration in reservoir regulation
blocking of most of the streams and policy even at the cost of sacrificing
river channels by human activities. some irrigation or power benefits.
• Sometimes, Tamil Nadu experiences » While physical flood protection works
flooding during November January due like embankments and dykes will
to the retreating monsoon. continue to be necessary, increased
Consequence and emphasis should be laid on non-

structural measures such as flood
Control of Floods forecasting and warning, flood plain

zoning and flood proofing for the
minimisation of losses and to reduce
• Frequent inundation of agricultural the recurring expenditure on flood relief.
land and human settlement has serious
» There should be strict regulation of
20
settlements and economic activity in are in place to mobilise the resources
the flood plain zones along with flood and capability for relief, rehabilitation,
proofing, to minimise the loss of life and reconstruction and recovery from
property on account of floods. disasters besides creating awareness
» The flood forecasting activities among vulnerable communities.
should be modernised, value added • NDMA has been entrusted to prepare a
and extended to other uncovered Detailed Project Report (DPR) on Flood
areas. Inflow forecasting to reservoirs Risk Mitigation Project.
should be instituted for their effective
regulation
Flood Management Programme
• The FMP scheme was launched by the
Flood Prevention Ministry of Water Resources under the
and Mitigation central plan at a total cost of 8000 crores

during the 11th Plan period (2007-12).
National Flood Risk Mitigation • The scheme provides financial
assistance to the state governments for
Project (NFRMP) undertaking flood management works
• It aims at ensuring that arrangements in critical areas.
21
6 Drought
The term ‘drought’ is applied to an extended period

when there is a shortage of water availability due
to inadequate precipitation, excessive rate of
evaporation and over-utilisation of water from
the reservoirs and other storages, including the
groundwater.
Types of Droughts rain falls between 750 mm and 1125 mm
which is considered drought prone.
Meteorological Drought • While 33 percent which receives
rainfalls between less than 750 mm is
• It is a situation when there is a prolonged considered to be chronically drought
period of inadequate rainfall marked prone.
with mal-distribution of the same over
time and space. Consequence and
Agricultural Drought
Control of Drought
• It is also known as soil moisture drought,
characterised by low soil moisture • Drought can be devastating as water
that is necessary to support the crops, supplies dry up, crops fail to grow,
thereby resulting in crop failures. animals die, and malnutrition and ill
• Moreover, if an area has more than health become widespread.
30 % of its gross cropped area under • The environmental effects of drought,
irrigation, the area is excluded from the including stalinization of soil and
drought-prone category. groundwater decline, increased
pollution of freshwater ecosystems and
Hydrological Drought regional extinction of animal species.
• It results when the availability of water • Control :
in different storages and reservoirs like
aquifers, lakes, reservoirs, etc. falls below » Identification of groundwater potential
what the precipitation can replenish. in the form of aquifers, transfer of river
water from the surplus to the deficit
Ecological Drought areas, and particularly planning for
• When the productivity of a natural inter-linking of rivers and construction
ecosystem fails due to shortage of water of reservoirs and dams, etc.
and as a consequence of ecological » Remote sensing and satellite imageries
distress, damages are induced in the can be useful in identifying the possible
ecosystem river-basins that can be interlinked
Drought Prone Areas and in identifying the ground water

potential.
in India » Dissemination of knowledge about

drought-resistant crops and proper
• Indian agriculture has been heavily training to practise the same can be
dependent on the monsoon rainfall some of the long-term measures that
because of the large-scale variations will be helpful in drought-mitigation.
and unpredictability in the behaviour » Rainwater harvesting can also be an
of the monsoon in India. effective method in minimising the
• Thus, droughts are widespread and effects of drought.
common phenomena in most parts of
the country. 2nd ARCRecommendations
• In India around 68 percent of the On Drought Management:
country is prone to drought to varying
degrees. • Deployment of remote sensing as the
• Of the entire area 35 percent receives primary tool for diagnosing droughts,
23
monitoring their course and forecasting on droughts and carrying out impact
prognosis is a goal that needs to be evaluation studies of the drought
pursued speedily and systematically. management efforts.
This would require dovetailing remote
sensing into the routine framework of Drought Prevention
drought management.
• In extremely drought prone area, a and Mitigation
strategy for making people pursue • The Drought Prone Areas Programme
livelihoods compatible with their (DPAP) and Desert Development
ecosystems needs to be evolved. Some Programme (DDP) are being
concrete steps in this direction could implemented by the Government
be: of India since 1973-74 and 1977-78
respectively.
» A multi-disciplinary team needs to
be immediately constituted by the • These programmes aim at drought
Ministry of Environment and Forests proofing and minimising desertification
to specifically identify villages where of fragile areas in the arid, semi-arid
soil and climatic conditions make and dry-sub humid regions often
‘conventional agriculture’ unsustainable. affected by severe drought conditions
and desertification.
» Alternate means of livelihood have
to be evolved in consultation with the • National Rainfed Area Authority in the
communities, in such areas. Ministry of Agriculture has been set up to
address the issue of drought mitigation
• A National Institute of Drought on a long term basis. It comprises
Management may be set up for experts who provide knowledge inputs
networking on multi-disciplinary, cross- regarding systematic upgradation and
sectoral research on various aspects of management of the country’s dry land
drought, acting as a resource centre and rainfed agriculture.
24
7 Landslides
Landslides mainly affect the Himalayan region and

the western ghats of India.
It is estimated that 30 percent of the world’s

landslides occur in the Himalayas. Due to its unique
nature which constitute the youngest and most
dominating mountain system in the world.
Landslides are also common in western ghat.
Landslides constitute a major natural hazard in our

country, which accounts for considerable loss of
life and damage to communication routes, human
settlements, agricultural fields and forest lands.
Consequences Jhumming (Slash and Burn/Shifting
Cultivation) is still prevalent.
and Control of » Other measures
Landslides − Structural measures: a) Planting

(Avalanche Prevention Forest) b)
Stepped Terraces c) Avalanche
• Landslides constitute a major natural
Control Piles d) Avalanche Control
hazard in our country, which accounts
Fence e) Suspended Fences f)
for considerable loss of life and
Snow Cornice Control Structures
damage to communication routes,
g) Protection structures such as
human settlements, agricultural fields
stopping, deflecting and retarding
and forest lands.
structures.
• Diversion of river courses due to
landslides can also lead to flood and
− Non-structural measures - removing
snow deposits on slopes by
loss of life and property.
blasting, predicting avalanches and
• Mitigation : evacuating people from vulnerable
areas
» Restriction on the construction and
other developmental activities such as
roads and dams, limiting agriculture to
Landslide
valleys and areas with moderate slopes, Prevention and
» Control on the development of large
settlements in the high vulnerability Mitigation
zones, should be enforced.
• ‘National Landslide Risk Mitigation
Project’ (NLRMP) has been proposed to
be launched.
• It aims at strengthening the structural
and non-structural landslide mitigation
efforts, reducing the landslide risk and
vulnerability in the hilly districts prone to
landslides and mudflows and minimise
the risks arising out of disasters in
landslides.
» Promoting large-scale afforestation

programmes & construction of bunds
to reduce the flow of water.
» Terrace farming should be encouraged
in the northeastern hill states where
26
8 Industrial and Chemical
Disasters
Industrial disasters are disasters caused by chemical,

mechanical, civil, electrical or other process failures
due to accident, negligence or incompetence, in an
industrial plant which may spill over to the areas
outside the plant or within causing damage to life,
property and environment
• Chemical
Industrial disasters accident or emergency
can result in extensive damage to the
environment with considerable human
• Industrial disasters are disasters caused and economic costs.
by chemical, mechanical, civil, electrical
or other process failures due to
accident, negligence or incompetence,
Prevention and
in an industrial plant which may spill Mitigation
over to the areas outside the plant or
within causing damage to life, property • The Environment (Protection) Act was
and environment enacted in 1986.Under the Act, two
rules have been notified for ensuring
Chemical Disaster chemical safety, namely,
• Chemical disasters are occurrence of » The Manufacture, Storage and Import
emission, fire or explosion involving one of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989
or more hazardous chemicals in the (MSIHC) amended in 1994 and 2000;
course of industrial activity (handling),
» The Chemical Accidents (Emergency,
storage or transportation or due to
Planning, Preparedness, and
natural events leading to serious effects
Response) Rules, 1996 (EPPR) under the
inside or outside the installation likely to
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
cause loss of life and property including
adverse effects on the environment.
28
9 Biological Disasters
Biological disasters define the devastating effects

caused by an enormous spread of a certain kind of
living organism – that may spread a disease, virus,
or infestations of plant, animal or insect life on an
epidemic or pandemic level.
• Cholera and influenza H1N1(Swine-flu) reproduce or replicate within their host
outbreaks are examples of biological victims.
disasters. • Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare nodal ministry for BW and partners with
is the nodal ministry for handling Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in
epidemics, decision-making, advisory its management.
body and emergency Medical Relief • MHA is responsible for assessing threat
provider. perceptions, setting up of deterrent
• According to the Constitution, health is a mechanisms and providing intelligence
state subject. The primary responsibility inputs.
of dealing with biological disasters rests
with the state government. Prevention of
• The National Institute of Communicable
Diseases (NICD) is the nodal agency for Biological Disasters
investigating outbreaks.
• The important means for prevention
• The NICD/Indian Council of Medical of biological disasters include the
Research (ICMR) provides teaching/ following:
training, research and laboratory
support. » Vulnerability Analysis and Risk
Assessment.
Biological Hazards » Environmental Management
• Also known as Biohazards, refer to − Safe Water supply and proper
biological substances or organic maintenance of sewage pipeline will
matters produced by parasites, viruses, go a long way in the prevention of
bacteria, fungi and protein that pose a biological disasters and epidemics
threat to the health of living organisms, of waterborne origin such as cholera,
primarily that of humans. hepatitis, diarrhoea and dysentery.
• This can include medical waste or − Personal hygiene necessary
samples of a microorganism, virus or awareness will be created in the
toxin (from a biological source) that can community about the importance
affect human health. of personal hygiene.
− Vector
Biological Warfare control measures like
Elimination of breeding places by
(BW) water management, keeping a

watch on the rodent population.
• Also known as Germ Warfare, is the use − Integrated Disease Surveillance

of biological toxins or infectious agents Systems.
such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with − Pharmaceutical Interventions in
the intent to kill or incapacitate humans, the form of Chemoprophylaxis,
animals or plants as an act of war. Immunisation and Other Preventive
• Biological weapons(often termed “bio- Measures
weapons”, “biological threat agents”,
or “bioagents”) are living organisms or
replicating entities (viruses, which are
not universally considered “alive”) that
30
10 Lightning
Lightning is a high-energy luminous electrical

discharge from a thundercloud to the ground
accompanied by thunder. Lightning is a very rapid and
massive discharge of electricity in the atmosphere.
Some of it is directed towards the Earth. It is a result
of the difference in electrical charge between the
top and bottom of a cloud. The lightning-generating
clouds are typically about 10-12 km in height, with
their base about 1-2 km from the Earth’s surface.
Lightning in India: the people working on the field in rural
areas. For example, a study of lightning
• In India every year more than 2500 deaths over Maharashtra has shown
people die due to lightning (Annual that 86% of the total deaths ( IITM,
Report, NCRB). Pune: 2004-2009) are from people
• Maharashtra has the highest deaths working on the field.
due to lightning in India. Mostly Rural • Lightning is a major cause of electrical
and forest areas are vulnerable with tall power breakdowns, and forest fires.
trees and water bodies.
• It can cause damage to communication
• Majority of the lightning victims are and computer equipment, and aircrafts.
MOST STRIKES IN ODISHA, MOST DEATHS IN UP
900
Lighting deaths PRIMARY CAUSES OF
Nooflighting strikes in thousands and no of deaths actual
(actual)
800
Lighting strikes
LIGHTNING DEATHS
700
(in thousands) 4
Indirect
600 hit
500
400 71
Standing 25
undertree Direct hit
300
DEATHS, URBAN VS RURAL
200
4% 96%
100 Urban Rural
0
Uttar Pradesh
Gujarat
Odisha
Maharashtra
West Bengal
Jharkhand
Puducherry
Tamil Nadu
Telangana
Bihar
Rajasthan
Kerala
Meghalaya
Assam
Tripura
Chhattisgarh
Himachal Pradesh
Mizoram
Karnataka
Haryana
Uttarakhand
Jammu & Kashmir
Andra Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
65% 35%
Male Female
Source: Mid-Monsoon 2019 Lightning Report
NDMA guidelines to would inform people of impending

disaster.
prevent loss of life • Structural protection measures like

Lightening shields for buildings and
due to lightning other structures.
• Promote installations of high grade
• Mapping of Lightning affected zones lightning arresters and Doppler Radars
on the basis of availability of data of of subsidized rates by the government.
deaths and injured persons and data of
• Improved wiring with trip-boxes and
lightning incidence.
good earthing.
• Sharing of data between different • Education and awareness on how to
agencies for preparation of mitigation
safely respond to lightning storms.
plan.
• Use of social media to effectively deliver
• Lightning strike warning system that the warnings.
32
11 Desert Locust
Locust are short-horned grasshoppers, some species

of which under favourable climatic conditions
congregate, move together as bands and swarm
over long distances crossing over countries and
continents rapidly, stripping fields and enormously
damaging crops.
Adult locust swarms can fly up to 150 km (93 miles)

a day with the wind and adult insects can consume
roughly their own weight in fresh food per day.
A very small swarm eats as much in one day as about

35,000 people.
If allowed to breed unchecked in favourable

conditions, locusts can form huge swarms that can
strip trees and crops over vast areas.
The unprecedented behaviour of desert locusts is a

cause of concern, for India recently faced the worst
locust attack in about 27 years.
The Locust cycle
Under optimal conditions The female locust lays
the Desert Locust changes her eggs directly into
both colour and behaviour the soil that hatch
as it becomes more after two weeks
gregarious
GREGARIO
US
SWARM
Increasing
multiplication and
concentration
BAND
SO
Adults mature and L I TA RY
are ready to lay
eggs after at least The hopper moults
3 weeks 5-6 times and
becomes an adult in
about 4-6 weeks
Locust Warning pesticides, which are active for a short

time, should be used. It gets difficult to
Organisation (LWO) control locusts when the adult locusts

emerge from the fifth-instar hoppers
and mature; they form swarms and fly
• In India, the scheme Locust Control away.
and Research (LC&R) is responsible for
control of Desert Locust. • At the same time, farmers should be
advised to not take their livestock for
• It is being implemented through grazing in area being sprayed on with
Organisation known as Locust Warning pesticide for at least one.
Organisation (LWO) established in 1939.
• Drones can also be used to spray
• Locust Warning organization (LWO) is pesticides on tall trees and inaccessible
responsible to monitor and control the places for effective control of locusts.
locust situation in Scheduled Desert
Area (SDA) mainly in the States of • Directives from the United Nations Food
Rajasthan and Gujarat while partly in and Agriculture Organisation, which is
the States of Punjab and Haryana. monitoring the situation on a global
scale, should be followed diligently for
• It keeps itself abreast with the effective locust control.
prevailing locust situation at National
and International level through monthly • India has also proposed a trilateral
Desert Locust Bulletins of FAO. initiative with Pakistan and Iran for
effective locust control. The Indian
Control Measures Meteorological Department should
provide the wind pattern data for
• A robust approach by the Union proper tracking of the movement of
government agencies and various locust swarms.
departments of states is required for • Safeguarding livelihoods and
effective desert locust control. Locusts promoting recovery through cash
are most vulnerable when they are in interventions, supplementary livestock
the hopper stage. feed, and livelihood recovery and
• To minimise environmental damages, farming packages.
34
12 Slow Onset Disasters
Disasters can also be classified as ‘slow onset’

disasters and ‘rapid onset’ disasters.
Earthquakes, cyclones, floods, tsunamis would fall

under the category of rapid onset disasters.
• A slow-onset disaster is defined as one • Slow onset disasters are also termed as
that does not emerge from a single, ‘Creeping Emergencies’.
distinct event but one that emerges • Unlike the rapid onset disasters, their
gradually over time, often based on a impact is not felt immediately; however,
confluence of different events. societies lose their ability to derive
• Climate change (global warming), sustenance from their surroundings,
desertification, soil degradation, and over a period of time.
droughts, would fall under the category
of slow onset disasters.
36
13 Urban Flooding
Urban flooding is significantly different from

rural flooding as urbanisation leads to developed
catchments which increases the flood peaks from
1.8 to 8 times and flood volumes by up to 6 times.
Consequently, flooding occurs very quickly due to

faster flow times, sometimes in a matter of minutes.
Increasing trend of urban flooding is a universal

phenomenon and poses a great challenge to urban
planners the world over.
There has been an increasing trend of urban flood

disasters in India over the past several years whereby
major cities in India have been severely affected.
The most notable amongst them are Hyderabad in

2000, Ahmedabad in 2001, Delhi in 2002 and 2003,
Chennai in 2004, Mumbai in 2005, Surat in 2006,
Kolkata in 2007, Jamshedpur in 2008, Delhi in 2009
and Guwahati and Delhi in 2010.
• It is essential to design and strengthen
Issues in Urban local hydro-meteorological data
Flooding: networks to cater for the needs of urban

flooding holistically.
• Among the important cities of India, the • State-of-the-art automatic water level
average annual rainfall varies from 2932 recorders must be installed throughout
mm in Goa and 2401 mm in Mumbai on the drainage network of the watershed,
the higher side, to 669 mm in Jaipur which may sometimes extend beyond
on the lower side. The rainfall pattern the administrative boundary of the
and temporal duration is almost similar ULB.
in all these cities, which receive the • Efforts shall be made to restore water
maximum rainfall from the south-west bodies by de-silting and taking other
monsoons. measures. Efforts shall also be made to
• Storm water drainage systems in the revive water bodies that have been put
past were designed for rainfall intensity to other uses.
of 12 - 20 mm. These capacities have • Local scale emergency medical
been getting very easily overwhelmed response systems will be established
whenever rainfall of higher intensity to deal with medical preparedness,
has been experienced. emergency treatment, mortuary
• Ideally, the natural drains should have facilities and disposal of bodies and
been widened (similar to road widening carcasses, public health issues including
for increased traffic) to accommodate trauma and control of epidemics.
the higher flows of storm water. But • Encourage local residents to constitute
on the contrary, there have been large Community Level First Responder
scale encroachments on the natural Support consisting of ex-servicemen,
drains and the river flood plains. retired police personnel, paramilitary
• Improper disposal of solid waste, forces and RWAs.
including domestic, commercial and • Suitable hedging mechanism, like
industrial waste and dumping of insurance of life and property, need
construction debris into the drains also to be evolved to reduce urban flood
contributes significantly to reducing vulnerability.
their capacities. • Public awareness will be created about
the need to keep safety kits containing
NDMA Guidelines on medicines, torch, identity cards, ration
card, important documents and non-
Urban Flooding perishable eatables ready before
commencement of monsoon so that,
• CWC should maximize the real-time they can carry the same with them, in
hydro-meteorological network to cover case they have to be evacuated.
all the urban centres in support of the • Media companies shall be motivated to
emerging priorities in dealing with launch/expand awareness generation
urban flooding. programmes as a part of their CSR
38
14 Epidemic / Pandemic
An epidemic is the rapid spread of disease to a large

number of people in a given population within a short
period of time.
When a new disease spreads over a vast geographical

area covering several countries and continents, and
most people do not have immunity against it, the
outbreak is termed a pandemic.
Pandemic implies a higher level of concern than

an epidemic, which the US Centers of Disease and
Control Prevention (CDC) defines as the spread of a
disease in a localised area or country.
WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.

India declared the pandemic as a ‘notified disaster’.
Provisions of the by the states with adaptations
necessitated by local requirements.
1897 Epidemic • Ministry of Health and Family

Welfare has to ensure that requisite
Diseases Act plans envisaged under the Disaster
Management Act, 2005, are drawn up in
• It empowers state governments/UTs to respect of epidemics also and that the
take special measures and formulate role of the district administration finds
regulations for containing the outbreak. explicit mention in the Public Health
Emergency Bill. The structure created
• It also empowers state to prescribe such by the Disaster Management Act,
temporary regulations to be observed
2005, should be utilized for managing
by the public or by any person or class
epidemics also.
of persons as it shall deem necessary to
prevent the outbreak of such disease or • While surveillance and management
the spread thereof. of epidemics are the responsibility of
public health professionals, it is clear
• The state may determine in what that a particularly severe outbreak
manner and by whom any expenses
could overwhelm the capacities of
incurred (including compensation if
the ‘line organizations’. The Ministry
any) shall be defrayed.
of Health and Family Welfare and
• It also provides penalties for disobeying the State Governments must ensure
any regulation or order made under the that ‘standard operating procedures’
Act. These are according to section 188 are devised to assign roles and
of the Indian Penal Code (Disobedience responsibilities of agencies and
to order duly promulgated by public personnel outside the line organisations
servant). wherever a situation so warrants.
• It also gives legal protection to the • State level handbooks and manuals
implementing officers acting under the concerning disaster management
Act. should have a chapter on “epidemics-
• The Act specifies that the central related emergencies”. A model chapter
government may regulate: (i) the may be circulated by the Ministry
inspection of any ship or vessel leaving of Health and Family Welfare for
or arriving at any port, and (ii) the guidance of states. It may be useful
detention of any person intending to to document the past handling of
travel from the port, during an outbreak. epidemics like the Plague (Surat) and
Japanese encephalitis (Eastern UP) to
2nd ARC facilitate standardization of response
mechanisms.
recommendations
NDMA guidelines
on epidemics
on Management of
• To more effectively prevent outbreak/
spread of epidemics, it is imperative Biological Disasters
that a comprehensive revised ‘model’
legislation on public health is finalized • Vulnerability analysis and risk
at an early date and that the Ministry assessment needs to be carried out at
of Health and Family Welfare the macro and micro levels for existing
systematically pursues its enactment diseases with epidemic potential,
40
emerging and re-emerging diseases, • All manufacturers of antibiotics,
and zoonotic diseases with potential to chemotherapeutics and anti-virals
cause human diseases, etc. shall be listed and their installed
• Important buildings and those housing capacity ascertained. The centre/state
vital installations need to be protected governments will ensure availability of
against biological agents wherever all such drugs and anti-toxins that are
deemed necessary. needed to combat a biological disaster.
• When exposure is suspected, the • Attention is to be given to the

affected persons shall be quarantined development of infrastructural facilities
and put under observation for any in terms of trained manpower, mobility,
atypical or typical signs and symptoms connectivity, knowledge enhancement
appearing during the period of and scientific up-gradation for all
observation. stakeholders concerned with the
management of biological disasters.
• Health professionals who are
associated with such investigations will • Biological disaster related education
have adequate protection and adopt shall be given in various vernacular
recognised universal precautions. languages. Simple exercise models
for creating awareness will also be
• Health care workers shall be equipped formulated at the district level.
with gloves, impermeable gowns,
N-95 masks or powered air-purifying • Toll-free numbers and a reward system
respirators. They must clean their for providing vital information about
hands prior to donning PPE for patient any oncoming biological disaster by
contact. an early responder or the public will be
helpful.
• With due consideration to the social,
ethnic and religious issues involved, • Those families subjected to bereavement
utmost care will be exercised in the of their near and dear ones would
disposal of dead bodies. also reflect in higher psycho-social
morbidity. MoH&FW through its mental
• Necessary awareness will be created in health institutions and NGOs would
the community about the importance provide adequate psycho-social care.
of personal hygiene, and measures
to achieve this, including provision of • The management of pandemics also
washing, cleaning and bathing facilities, requires a transparent and collaborative
and avoiding overcrowding in sleeping approach wherein the affected
quarters, etc. countries will make a combined effort
to mitigate the impact.
41
15 Institutional Framework
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 has provided

the legal and institutional framework for disaster
management in India at the national, state and
district levels.
Centre level Disaster Management Act 2005
• On 23 December 2005, the Government
Institutions of India enacted the Disaster
Management Act, which envisaged
National Policy on Disaster the creation of National Disaster
Management (NPDM) Management Authority (NDMA),
headed by the Prime Minister, and
• The National Policy on Disaster
State Disaster Management Authorities
Management (NPDM) was approved by
(SDMAs) headed by respective Chief
the central government on October 22,
Ministers, to spearhead and implement
2009.
a holistic and integrated approach to
• The policy envisages a safe and disaster Disaster Management in India.
resilient India by developing a holistic,
• The Act further provides for the
proactive, multi-disaster oriented and
constitution of different Executive
technology driven strategy through
Committee at national and state levels.
a culture of prevention, mitigation,
preparedness and response. • Under its aegis, the National Institute
of Disaster Management (NIDM) for
• The policy covers all aspects of disaster
capacity building and National Disaster
management including institutional
Response Force (NDRF) for response
and legal arrangements, financial
purpose have been set up.
arrangements.
• It also mandates the concerned
• This policy will be a paradigm shift, from
Ministries and Departments to draw up
the erstwhile relief-centric response
their own plans in accordance
to a proactive prevention, mitigation
and preparedness-driven approach for • with the National Plan.
conserving developmental gains and • The Act further contains the provisions
to minimise loss of life, livelihood and for financial mechanisms such as
property. creation of funds for response, National
Disaster Mitigation Fund and similar
funds at the state and district levels for
the purpose of disaster management.
43
LEGAL-INSTITUTION FRAMEWORK
Disaster Management Act 2005
Central MHA
National
Executive
Goverment (DM cell) Committee
Nodal Ministry NDMA Chair:HS
state
Goverment NIDM NDRF State
Executive
SDMA Committee
Chair:CS
District
Administration DMD
Panchayat Municipalities DDMA
National Disaster Management or the mitigation of its effects in their

development plans and projects;
Authority (NDMA)
» Coordinate the enforcement and
• NDMA, as the apex body, is mandated implementation of the policy and plans
to lay down the policies, plans and for disaster management;
guidelines for Disaster Management to
» Recommend provision of funds for the
ensure timely and effective response to
purpose of mitigation;
disasters.
» Provide such support to other countries
• Towards this, it has the following
affected by major disasters as may be
responsibilities:-
determined by the Central Government;
» Lay down policies on disaster » Take such other measures for the
management ; prevention of disaster, or the mitigation,
» Approve the National Plan; or preparedness and capacity building
for dealing with threatening disaster
» Approve plans prepared by the Ministries situations or disasters as it may consider
or Departments of the Government of necessary;
India in accordance with the National
Plan; » Lay down broad policies and guidelines
for the functioning of the National
» Lay down guidelines to be followed by Institute of Disaster Management.
the State Authorities in drawing up the
State Plan; • The NDMA is mandated to deal with
» Lay down guidelines to be followed by all types of disasters; natural or man-
the different Ministries or Departments made.
for the Purpose of integrating the • Whereas, such other emergencies
measures for prevention of disaster including those requiring close
44
involvement of the security forces and/ Radiological and Nuclear) weapon
or intelligence agencies such as systems, mine disasters, port and
• terrorism (counter-insurgency), harbour emergencies,
• law and order situations, serial bomb • forest fires, oilfield fires and oil spills
blasts, hijacking, air accidents, will continue to be handled by the
extant mechanism i.e., National Crisis
• CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Management Committee (NCMC).
National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)

• For effective implementation of relief measures in the wake of a natural calamity,
the Cabinet may set up a committee. On the constitution of such a committee of
the Cabinet, the Agriculture Secretary shall provide all necessary information to
and seek directions if any, of the Cabinet Committee in all matters concerning relief
in the wake of natural calamity and take steps for effective implementation of its
directions.
• In the absence of such a Cabinet Committee, all matters relating to relief shall be
reported to the Cabinet Secretary.
• A National Crisis Management Committee(NCMC) has been constituted in the
Cabinet Secretariat. The composition of the Committee is as under:-
• Cabinet Secretary - Chairman
• Secretary to Prime Minister Member
• Secretary (MHA) Member
• Secretary (MCD) Member
• Director (IB) Member
• Secretary (R&AW) Member
• Secretary (Agri& Coop.) Co-opted Member
• An officer of the Cabinet Secretariat. Convenor
• NDMA may, however, formulate act as the coordinating and monitoring

guidelines and facilitate training and body for disaster management, to
preparedness activities in respect of prepare a National Plan, monitor the
CBRN emergencies implementation of National Policy etc.
vide section 10 of the DM Act.
National Executive
State level
Committee (NEC)
• A National Executive Committee is
Institutions
constituted under Section 8 of DM Act, State Disaster Management
2005 to assist the National Authority Authority (SDMA)
in the performance of its functions.
NEC consists of Home Secretary as its • The DM Act, 2005 provides for the
Chairperson. constitution of SDMAs and DDMAs in
• NEC has been given the responsibility to all the states and UTs.
45
• As per the information received from • Gujarat has constituted its SDMA under
the states and UTs, except Gujarat its Gujarat State Disaster Management
and Daman & Diu, all the rest have Act, 2003. Daman & Diu have also
constituted SDMAs under the DM Act, established SDMAs prior to enactment
2005. of DM Act 2005.
State Level Disaster Management

Coordination Mechanism
National
Central Disaster
Goverment Management
Ministries/ Authority
Departments (NDMA)
State Goverment
State Disaster
State Management
State
Disaster Authority
Executive
Response (SDMA)
Committee
force
(SEC)
(SDRF)
Relief
Commissioner/
Nodal
Department
State
Emergency
Operation State
Centre Department/
(SEOC) Line District
Agencies Disaster
Management
Authority
(DDMA)
Agencies
With
Disaster
Management
Responsibilities
State
(SEC)
Executive Committee District level
• The Act envisages establishment of
Institutions
State Executive Committee under District Disaster Management
Section 20 of the Act, to be headed by
Chief Secretary of the state Government
Authority (DDMA)
with four other Secretaries of such • Section 25 of the DM Act provides for
departments as the state Government constitution of DDMA for every district
may think fit. of a state.
• It has the responsibility for coordinating • The District Magistrate/ District
and monitoring the implementation of Collector/Deputy Commissioner heads
the National Policy, the National Plan the Authority as Chairperson besides
and the State Plan an elected representative of the local
authority as Co-Chairperson except
in the tribal areas where the Chief
Executive Member of the District Council
of Autonomous District is designated as
Co-Chairperson.
46
• The District Authority is responsible Cooperation under the Ministry of
for planning, coordination and Agriculture and Farmer Welfare
implementation of disaster monitors relief activities for calamities
management and to take such associated with drought, hailstorms,
measures for disaster management as pest attacks and cold wave/frost
provided in the guidelines. while rest of the natural calamities are
• The District Authority also has the monitored by the Ministry of Home
power to examine the construction in Affairs (MHA).
any area in the district to enforce the • NDRF is audited by Comptroller and
safety standards and also to arrange Auditor General (CAG).
for relief measures and respond to the • The main task of NDRF is to provide
disaster at the district level. specialist response in case of disasters
National Disaster Response which broadly covers:
Fund » Assistance to civil authorities in
• National Calamity Contingency Fund distribution of relief material
(NCCF) was renamed as National » First medical response to victims
Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) with the » Capacity building
enactment of the Disaster Management
Act in 2005. » To conduct mock exercises in
coordination with other stakeholders
• It is defined in Section 46 of the Disaster for well-coordinated response during
Management Act, 2005 (DM Act). disasters.
• It is placed in the “Public Account” of » To train State Disaster Response Force
Government of India under “reserve (SDRF), community and NGO’S in
funds not bearing interest”. disaster management.
• It is managed by the Central
Government for meeting the expenses
State Disaster Response Fund
for emergency response, relief and • Constituted under Section 48 (1) (a) of
rehabilitation due to any threatening the Disaster Management Act, 2005, is
disaster situation or disaster. the primary fund available with State
• It supplements the State Disaster Governments for responses to notified
Response Fund (SDRF) in case of a disasters.
disaster of severe nature, provided • The Central Government contributes
adequate funds are not available in the 75% of SDRF allocation for general
SDRF. category States/UTs and 90% for
• It is financed through the levy of a special category States/UTs (NE
cess on certain items, chargeable to States, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal
excise and customs duty, and approved Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir).
annually through the Finance Bill. • The annual Central contribution is
• Recently, The Central Government has released in two equal instalments as
allowed contributions from any person per the recommendation of the Finance
or institution in the National Disaster Commission.
Response Fund (NDRF) as per Section • SDRF shall be used only for meeting the
46(1)(b) of the Disaster Management expenditure for providing immediate
(DM) Act, 2005. relief to the victims.
• Department of Agriculture and • Local Disaster: A State Government
47
may use up to 10 percent of the funds nominate three trustees to the Board of
available under the SDRF for providing Trustees who shall be eminent persons
immediate relief to the victims of natural in the field of research, health, science,
disasters that they consider to be social work, law, public administration
‘disasters’ within the local context in the and philanthropy.
State and which are not included in the • Any person appointed a Trustee shall
notified list of disasters of the Ministry act in a pro bono capacity.
of Home Affairs subject to the condition
that the State Government has listed Contribution to the Fund:
the State specific natural disasters and • The fund consists entirely of voluntary
notified clear and transparent norms contributions from individuals/
and guidelines for such disasters with organizations and does not get any
the approval of the State Authority, i.e., budgetary support. The fund will be
the State Executive Authority (SEC). utilised in meeting the objectives as
PM CARES Fund - Prime stated above.
Minister’s Citizen Assistance • Donations to PM CARES Fund would
qualify for 80G benefits for 100%
and Relief in Emergency exemption under the Income Tax Act,
Situations Fund 1961.
Objectives: • Donations to PM CARES Fund will also
qualify to be counted as Corporate
• To undertake and support relief or Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure
assistance of any kind relating to a under the Companies Act, 2013
public health emergency or any other
kind of emergency, calamity or distress, • PM CARES Fund has also got exemption
either man-made or natural, including under the FCRA and a separate account
the creation or upgradation of for receiving foreign donations has been
healthcare or pharmaceutical facilities, opened. This enables PM CARES Fund
other necessary infrastructure, funding to accept donations and contributions
relevant research or any other type of from individuals and organizations
support. based in foreign countries.
• To render financial assistance, provide Prime Minister’s National Relief
grants of payments of money or take Fund (PMNRF)
such other steps as may be deemed
necessary by the Board of Trustees to Objectives:
the affected population. • The Prime Minister’s National Relief
• To undertake any other activity, which Fund (PMNRF) was established with
is not inconsistent with the above public contributions to assist displaced
Objects. persons from Pakistan.
Constitution of the Trust: • The resources of the PMNRF are now
utilized primarily to render immediate
• Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman relief to families of those killed in natural
of the PM CARES Fund and Minister of calamities like floods, cyclones and
Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and earthquakes, etc. and to the victims of
Minister of Finance, Government of the major accidents and riots.
India are ex-officio Trustees of the Fund.
• Assistance from PMNRF is also
• The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees rendered, to partially defray the
(Prime Minister) shall have the power to expenses for medical treatment like
48
heart surgeries, kidney transplantation, continue to be the primary responsibility
cancer treatment and acid attack etc. of the State Governments and the Union
Constitution of the Trust: Government should play a supportive
role.
• The fund is recognized as a Trust under • The Act should provide categorization
the Income Tax Act and the same is of disasters (say, local, district, state
managed by the Prime Minister or or national level). This categorization
multiple delegates for national causes. along with intensity of each type of
Contribution to the Fund: disaster will help in determining the
level of authority primarily responsible
• The fund consists entirely of public for dealing with the disaster as well
contributions. Contributions flowing out
as the scale of response and relief -
of budgetary sources of Government or
detailed guidelines may be stipulated
from the balance sheets of the public
by the NDMA on this subject.
sector undertakings are not accepted.
• The task of implementation of
• Conditional contributions, where
mitigation/prevention and response
the donor specifically mentions that
measures may be left to the State
the amount is meant for a particular
Governments and the district and local
purpose, are not accepted in the Fund.
authorities with the line ministries/
• The corpus of the fund is invested departments of Government of India,
in various forms with scheduled playing a supportive role.
commercial banks and other agencies.
• The law should cast a duty on every
• All contributions towards PMNRF are public functionary, to promptly inform
exempt from Income Tax under section the concerned authority about any
80(G). crisis, if he/she feels that such authority
does not have such information.
2ndARC Recommendations on
The Disaster Management Act, • The law should make provisions for
stringent punishment for misutilization
2005 of funds meant for crisis/disaster
• The Disaster Management Act, 2005 management.
(Central Act) needs to be amended to • The role of the local governments
bring in the following features: should be brought to the forefront for
• Disaster/Crisis Management should crisis/disaster management.
49
16 International Cooperation
India has played an important role in global initiatives

on disaster management. With multi-dimensional
initiatives and expertise, India is taking a leading role
in strengthening regional cooperation among South
Asian countries for reducing disasters.
» Use knowledge, innovation & education
Hyogo Framework of to build a culture of safety & resilience
Action at all levels,

» Reduce the underlying risk factors,
• Representatives from 168 countries » Strengthen disaster preparedness for
participated in the global conference effective response at all levels.
on Disaster Risk Reduction in January
2005 in Kobe, Japan. • India is one of the participating
countries and works closely with the
• The Hyogo Framework of Action UN-ISDR to implement the Priority
(HFA) 2005-2015 was adopted to work
Areas of HFA for DRR.
globally towards sustainable reduction
of disaster losses in lives and in the
social, economic and environmental
Sendai Framework
assets of communities and countries. for Disaster Risk
• The framework set three strategic goals
given as under:- Reduction 2015-
» The more effective integration of 2030
disaster risk reduction into sustainable
development policies, planning • The Sendai Framework for Disaster
and programming at all levels, with Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai
a special emphasis on disaster Framework) was the first major
prevention, mitigation, preparedness agreement of the post-2015
and vulnerability reduction. development agenda and provides
» The development and strengthening Member States with concrete actions
of institutions, mechanisms and to protect development gains from the
capacities at all levels in particular risk of disaster.
at the community level that can • It was endorsed by the UN General
systematically contribute to building Assembly following the 2015 Third UN
resilience to hazards. World Conference on Disaster Risk
» The systematic incorporation of risk Reduction (WCDRR).
reduction approaches into the design • It aims to achieve the substantial
and implementation of emergency reduction of disaster risk and losses
preparedness, response and recovery in lives, livelihoods and health and in
programmes in the reconstruction of the economic, physical, social, cultural
the affected communities. and environmental assets of persons,
businesses, communities and countries
• Under the HFA the following priority over the next 15 years.
areas have been identified for the
countries to concentrate in their efforts
• The Sendai Framework is the successor
instrument to the Hyogo Framework.
for making the countries disaster
resilent. • The Sendai Framework outlines seven
global targets to guide and against
» Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a which to assess progress.
national and a local priority with a strong
• The seven global targets are:
institutional basis for implementation,
» Identify, assess and monitor disaster » Substantially reduce global disaster
risks and enhance early warning, mortality by 2030, aiming to lower the
51
average per 100,000 global mortality order to promote resilient livelihoods,
rate in the decade 2020–2030 food production and ecosystems.
compared to the period 2005–2015;
• Goal 3: relates to strengthening early
» Substantially reduce the number of warning and risk reduction of national
affected people globally by 2030, and global health risks presents an
aiming to lower the average global opportunity to further actions to
figure per 100,000 in the decade 2020– promote resilient health etc.
2030 compared to the period 2005–
2015; United Nations
» Reduce direct disaster economic loss
in relation to global gross domestic International
product (GDP) by 2030;
» Substantially reduce disaster damage
Strategy for Disaster
to critical infrastructure and disruption
of basic services, among them health
Reduction (UNISDR)
and educational facilities, including • In December 1999, General Assembly
through developing their resilience by Resolution 54/219 created the UNISDR,
2030 as a successor of the secretariat of
» Substantially increase the number the International Decade for Natural
of countries with national and local Disaster Reduction, in 2001.
disaster risk reduction strategies by • It is mandated by UNISDR is to serve
2020; as the focal point in the United Nations
» Substantially enhance international System for the coordination of disaster
cooperation to developing countries reduction and to ensure synergies
through adequate and sustainable among the disaster reduction activities
support to complement their national of the United Nations Systems and
actions for implementation of the regional organizations and activities
present Framework by 2030 in socio-economic and humanitarian
field.
» Substantially increase the availability
of and access to multi-hazard early • In order to build the resilience of
warning systems and disaster risk nations and communities to disasters
information and assessments to people through the implementation of the
by 2030. HFA, the UNISDR strives to catalyze,
facilitate and mobilise the commitment
Some Targets of SDG’s in line and resources of national, regional and
with the Sendai Framework: international stakeholders of the ISDR
system.
• Goal 1: Target 1.5, which relates to
building the resilience of the poor, further
• The biennial Global Platform for
Disaster Risk Reduction (GFDRR) acts
strengthens the position of disaster
as the main global forum for continued
risk reduction as a core development
and concerted emphasis on disaster
strategy for ending extreme poverty.
reduction.
• Goal 2: Target 2.4 supports the
immediate need to advance actions in
mainstreaming disaster risk reduction
and climate adaptation into agriculture
sector planning and investments in
52
• Each member country has to bear the
Global Facility annual contribution calculated on the
for Disaster Risk basis of GDP.

• India is one of the founder members of
Reduction (GFDRR) ADRC.
• GFDRR was set up in September 2006 Asian Disaster

jointly by the World Bank, donor partners
(21 countries and four international Preparedness
organisations), and key stakeholders of
the International Strategy for Disaster Centre (ADPC)
Reduction (UN-ISDR).
• ADPC was established in 1986 at
• It is a long-term global partnership Bangkok,Thailand.
under the ISDR system established
to develop and implement the HFA • It is a non-profit, non-political,
through a coordinated programme for autonomous, regional organization
reversing the trend in disaster losses by serving as a regional centre in
2015. Asia-Pacific for promoting disaster
preparedness, disaster mitigation,
• Its mission is to mainstream disaster awareness generation, exchange of
reduction and climate change information, community participation
adaptation in a country’s development etc.
strategies to reduce vulnerability to
natural hazards. • India is a member of the Board of
Trustees (BoT), since August 2000.
• As and when required, India has been
participating in the status of observer • Union Home Secretary is one of the
in the GFDRR programme. Members of the BoT of ADPC, since
the transfer of subject of Disaster
Asian Disaster Management to the Ministry of
Home Affairs.11.7. SAARC Disaster
Reduction Centre Management Centre (SDMC)
• SAARC Disaster Management Centre
(ADRC) (SDMC) was set up in October 2006 at
the premises of National Institute of
• The Asian Disaster Reduction Center Disaster Management in New Delhi.
was established in Kobe, in 1998, with
• The Executive Director of the NIDM is
a mission to enhance disaster resilience
also the Director of SAARC Disaster
of the member countries, to build safe
Management Centre New Delhi.
communities, and to create a society
where sustainable development is • The Centre has the mandate to serve all
possible. eight Member Countries of South Asia
Association of Regional Cooperation
• The Center works to build disaster (SAARC) - by providing policy advice
resilient communities and to establish
and facilitating capacity building
networks among countries through
services including strategic learning,
many programs including personnel
research, training, system development
exchanges in this field.
and exchange of information for
• Currently there are 29 member countries effective disaster risk reduction (DRR)
of ADRC. and management in South Asia.
53
Sustainable Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure,
promote inclusive and sustainable
Development Goals industrialization and foster
innovation
(SDGs) with Targets • 9.1 - Develop quality, reliable, sustainable
related to Disaster and resilient infrastructure, including
regional and trans border infrastructure,
Risk to support economic development and
human well-being, with a focus on
Goal 1 End poverty in all its forms affordable and equitable access for all.
everywhere
• 9.a - Facilitate sustainable and
• 1.5 - By 2030, build the resilience of the resilient infrastructure development
poor and those in vulnerable situations in developing countries through
and reduce their exposure and enhanced financial, technological and
vulnerability to climate-related extreme technical support to African countries,
events and other economic, social and least developed countries, landlocked
environmental shocks and disasters developing countries and small island
development states.
Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food
security and improved nutrition and Goal 11. Make cities and human
promote sustainable agriculture settlements inclusive, safe, resilient
and sustainable
• 2.4 - By 2030, ensure sustainable food
production systems and implement • 11.5 - By 2030, significantly reduce the
resilient agricultural practices that number of deaths and the number
increase productivity and production, of people affected and substantially
that help maintain ecosystems, that decrease the direct economic losses
strengthen capacity for adaptation relative to global gross domestic
to climate change, extreme weather, product caused by disasters, including
drought, flooding and other disasters water-related disasters, with a focus
and that progressively improve land on protecting the poor and people in
and soil quality vulnerable situations.
Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and • 11.b - By 2020, substantially increase the
promote well-being for all at all number of cities and human settlements
ages adopting and implementing integrated
policies and plans towards inclusion,
• 3.d - Strengthen the capacity of all resource efficiency, mitigation and
countries, in particular developing adaptation to climate change,
countries, for early warning, risk resilience to disasters, and develop
reduction and management of national and implement, in line with the Sendai
and global health risks. Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
Goal 6. Ensure availability and 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk
sustainable management of water management at all levels.
and sanitation for all • 11.c - Support least developed
countries, including through financial
• 6.6 - By 2020, protect and restore
and technical assistance, in building
water-related ecosystems, including
sustainable and resilient buildings
mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers,
utilizing local materials.
aquifers and lakes.
54
Goal 13. Take urgent action to and halt biodiversity loss
combat climate change and its • 15.1 - By 2020, ensure the conservation,
impacts restoration and sustainable use of
• 13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive terrestrial and inland freshwater
capacity to climate-related hazards ecosystems and their services, in
and natural disasters in all countries particular forests, wetlands, mountains
and drylands, in line with obligations
• 13.2 - Integrate climate change measures under international agreements.
into national policies, strategies and
planning. • 15.2 - By 2020, promote the
implementation of sustainable
• 13.3 - Improve education, awareness- management of all types of forests, halt
raising and human and institutional deforestation, restore degraded forests
capacity on climate change mitigation, and substantially increase afforestation
adaptation, impact reduction and early and reforestation globally
warning.
• 15.3 - By 2030, combat desertification,
• 13.a - Implement the commitment restore degraded land and soil, including
undertaken by developed-country land affected by desertification, drought
parties to the United Nations Framework and floods, and strive to achieve a land
Convention on Climate Change to a degradation-neutral world.
goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion
annually by 2020 from all sources
to address the needs of developing
Satellites in DM
countries in the context of meaningful International efforts
mitigation actions.
• Satellite communication and navigation
• 13.b - Promote mechanisms for raising systems also play an important role in
capacity for effective climate change- disaster management with improved
related planning and management in technological options
least developed countries, including
focusing on women, youth and local • ISRO as the signatory of International
and marginalized communities Charter “Space and Major Disasters”
supports various Authorised Users (AUs)
Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably of the Charter during major disasters
use the oceans, seas and
• Under the framework of APRSAF
marine resources for sustainable initiative Sentinel Asia, ISRO supports
development the disaster management activities in
• 14.2 - By 2020, sustainably manage and Asia-Pacific region
protect marine and coastal ecosystems • In addition to the Charter and Sentinel
to avoid significant adverse impacts, Asia, ISRO also supports the Disaster
including by strengthening their Management activities of UNESCAP
resilience, and take action for their (Economic and Social Commission for
restoration in order to achieve healthy Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) under
and productive oceans regional co-operation.
Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote
sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage
forests, combat desertification, and
halt and reverse land degradation
55
International Charter “Space and Major GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented
Disasters” Navigation-GAGAN project)
• It is a non-binding charter which • The Indian Space Research
provides for the charitable and Organization (ISRO) and Airports
humanitarianretaskedacquisition of Authority of India (AAI) have
and transmission of space satellite implemented the GPS Aided Geo
data to relief organizations in the Augmented Navigation-GAGAN
event of major disasters project as a Satellite Based
Augmentation System (SBAS) for the
• Initiated by the European Space
Indian Airspace.
Agency and the French space agency
CNES it officially came into operation • The objective of GAGAN to establish,
on November 1, 2000 deploy and certify satellite based
augmentation system for safety-of-
APRSAF life civil aviation applications and
• The Asia-Pacific Regional Space weather predictions in India has been
Agency Forum (APRSAF) was successfully completed.
established in 1993 to enhance space • The system is interoperable with
activities in the Asia-Pacific region. other international SBAS systems
• Space agencies, governmental bodies, like US-WAAS, European EGNOS,
international organizations, private and Japanese MSAS etc. GAGAN
companies, universities, and research GEO footprint extends from Africa to
institutes from over 40 countriesand Australia and has expansion capability
regions take part in APRSAF, the for seamless navigation services across
largest space-related conference in the region.
the Asia-Pacific region
Gagan Enabled Mariner’s Instrument for
Indian efforts Navigation and Information (GEMINI)
device
• In India, RISAT 2BR1 and RISAT 2B in
the Low Earth Orbits (through Earth • For seamless and effective
Observation applications which dissemination of emergency
can help in prediction of detectable information and communication on
disasters) and INSAT 3DR and 3D in disaster warnings, Potential Fishing
theGeoStationary Orbits (For prediction Zones (PFZ) and Ocean States Forecasts
as well as communication during (OSF) to fishermen, the Government
and post disaster) help in disaster today launched the Gagan Enabled
management applications. Mariner’s Instrument for Navigation
and Information (GEMINI) device.
• Also, initiatives like GAGAN and GEMINI
initiatives can help in weather prediction • The satellite based communication
is the only suitable solution for the
and cyclone awareness applications
dissemination of such emergency
information and affordable satellite
based communication system should
be made part of the dissemination
chain to deal with cyclones, high waves
and tsunamis”.
56
17 Important aspects of Disaster
Management
The first important steps towards reducing disaster

impact are to correctly analyse the potential risk
and identify measures that can prevent, mitigate or
prepare for emergencies.
Disability Inclusive • High mortality rate of disabled
people: They have 2 to 4 times the
Disaster Risk mortality rate of the general population
in acute onset of disasters, with that
Reduction (DiDRR) of women with disability being even
higher.
• "Empowering women and persons with • Social discrimination: There is also
disabilities to publicly lead and promote a potential for discrimination on the
gender equitable and universally basis of disability when resources are
accessible response, recovery, scarce.
rehabilitation and reconstruction
approaches is key" - Sendai framework National and International
for disaster risk reduction Framework:
• Persons with disabilities may be placed • Section 8 of the Rights of Persons with
at increased disaster risk due to cognitive Disabilities Act, 2016 guarantees equal
or physical impairments. These factors protection and safety for persons with
may limit the ability of a person with disabilities in these situations.
disabilities to access information and/
or to act on that information. » It also mandates Disaster Management
Need for Disability Inclusive Authorities at District/State/National
levels to take measures to include
Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR) persons with disabilities in disaster
• Large population of disabled management activities and to keep
people: In India, of the 2.68 crores them duly informed about these.
(about. 2.1% of total population) » These authorities are mandatorily
persons with disability, men with required to involve the concerned
disabilities constitute 56% and women State Commissioner for Persons
with disabilities make up the rest 44%. with Disabilities during disaster
management.
• Lack of readiness: Persons with
disabilities are more likely to be left • The United Nations Convention on the
behind or abandoned during evacuation Rights of Persons with Disabilities pays
in disasters and conflicts due to a lack particular attention to the obligation
of preparation and planning, as well as of States parties to undertake “all
inaccessible facilities and services and necessary measures to ensure the
transportation systems. protection and safety of persons
• Disproportionate impacts: with disabilities in situations of risk,
Disruption to physical, social, economic, including situations of armed conflict,
and environmental networks and humanitarian emergencies and the
support systems affect persons with occurrence of natural disasters.”
disabilities much more than the general National Disaster Management
population.
Guidelines on Disability Inclusive
• Inaccessibility: Most shelters and Disaster Risk Reduction
refugee camps are not accessible and
people with disabilities are many times • Principle of disability inclusion
even turned away from shelters and
refugee camps due to a perception that » Strengthen the implementation process
they need “complex medical” services. on providing appropriate support
58
to people with disabilities when Disability Act (RPWDA) 2016 has to be
responding to disasters. institutionalised.
» Empower persons with disabilities and » Awareness of DRR planning and
their representative organization to services among people with disabilities
contribute to all aspects of DiDRR so has to be universalized.
that they are viewed not as passive » Adoption of universal design principle,
actors but as decision makers. facilitation of accessibility and access
» Targets: These guidelines are intended to assistive technology
primarily for the government. officials/ » Preparedness and mitigation strategies
administration working in the field such as national stockpiling of durable
of DRR at national, state and local medical equipment, life saving
level, international NGO, person devicesetc for reducing the chance of
with disability, disabled people’s increasing their disability.
organisation.
» Early warning system mechanism for
informing people with intellectual
• Some of the guidelines are disability through repeated and
alternative formats such as audio and
» Centre should conduct census and sign languages.
survey of people with disabilities for » Centre should earmark specific
data & resource mapping budgetary allocation towards DiDRR
» Inclusion of issues of persons with and state should mobilize and utilize
disability and their organization in CSR fund and District mineral fund
disaster risk reduction activities as towards implementation of inclusive
stipulated in the Right of Person with actions.
59
Recent Guidelines for protection and safety of Persons with Disabilities
(Divyangjan) in light of Pandemic Covid-19: Guidelines issued by the Department
of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) are as follows:
• All information about COVID 19, services offered and precautions to be taken should
be available in simple and local language in accessible formats; i.e. in Braille and
audible tapes for persons with visual impairment, video-graphic material with sub-
titles and sign language interpretation for persons with hearing impairment and
through accessible web sites.
• Sign language interpreters who work in emergency and health settings should be
given the same health and safety protection as other health care workers dealing
with COVID19.
• All persons responsible for handling emergency response services should be trained
on the rights of persons with disabilities, and on risks associated with additional
problems for persons having specific impairments.
• Relevant information on support to persons with disabilities should be a part of all
awareness campaigns.
• Caregivers of persons with disabilities should be allowed to reach Persons with
disabilities by exempting them from restrictions during lockdown or providing passes
in a simplified manner on priority.
• To ensure continuation of support services for persons with disabilities with minimum
human contact, due publicity needs to be given to ensuring personal protective
equipments for caregivers.
• The Resident Welfare Associations should be sensitized about the need of persons
with disabilities so as to allow entry of maid, caregiver and other support providers
to their residence after following due sanitizing procedure.
• Persons with disabilities should be given access to essential food, water, medicine,
and, to the extent possible, such items should be delivered at their residence or
place where they have been quarantined.
• The States/UTs may consider reserving specific opening hours in retail provision
stores including super markets for persons with disabilities and older persons for
ensuring easy availability of their daily requirements.
• 24X7 Helpline Number at State Level be set up exclusively for Divyangjan with
facilities of sign language interpretation and video calling.
• The States/UTs may consider involving Organisation of Persons with Disabilities in
preparation and dissemination of information material on COVID 19 for use of PwDs.
Disasters and children are the most adversely

affected in disasters, particularly
Vulnerability of natural disasters, and consequently
suffer the most. This was evident during
Women the recent Tsunami in India where in
Nagapattinam district, 2406 women
died as compared with 1883 men.
• It has been noted that women and
• The basic reason for this situation is
60
the gender disparities which exist in • Arrangements have to be made for
our society because of which women orphaned children on a long term basis.
have little say in decision making, NGOs should be encouraged to play a
particularly outside the household, they major role in their rehabilitation
are comparatively less literate, have
lesser mobility and are dependent on Role of technology
men folk in most matters. Consequently,
they are not adequately consulted in in Disaster
the decision making process in the
community and have a lesser role in all Management
activities. While technology cannot replace the vital
2nd ARC recommendations: resources people need in disaster – food,
water, shelter, or comfort from loved ones -
• The vulnerability analysis should it is transforming disaster relief efforts and
bring out the specific vulnerabilities of paving the way for an evolving approach
women and these should be addressed to international aid: one that can reach
in any mitigation effort. Disaster more people, faster, and help communities
mitigation plans should be prepared, in to develop resilience for when the next
consultation with women’s’ groups. disaster strikes.
• Rescue and relief operations should
focus on the most vulnerable groups
• Aerial robotics: Aerial robotics,
including unmanned aerial vehicles
- women, children, the elderly and the
(UAVs), show tremendous potential
physically challenged.
to transform humanitarian aid.
• Relief measures should take into Using this technology, organizations
account the special requirements of can map terrain more effectively,
women and other vulnerable groups. assess damage in real time, increase
Particular attention needs to be given situational awareness through high-
to their physical and mental well-being resolution mapping and deliver items
through health care and counselling. faster, cheaper and more efficiently.E.g.
• In the recovery phase, efforts should global non-profit WeRobotics’
focus on making women economically programme, AidRobotics, identifies
independent by offering them local humanitarian needs and incubates
opportunities of earning incomes, robotics solutions via regional Flying
providing training in new skills, forming Labs™
self-help groups, providing micro- • Modern Cameras: infrared cameras
finance, marketing facilities etc. and advanced listening systems enable
• The title of new assets created should UAVs to uncover survivors from rubble
be in the names of both husband and or among flames and live-stream night
wife. footage, increasing the success of
• Camp managing committees should critical rescue efforts.
have adequate number of women • Modern Communication: In times
representatives. of disaster, basic connectivity is a
• Trauma counselling and psychological form of aid that connects people to
care should be provided to widows and the resources critical for survival and
women and other persons in distress. enables humanitarian organizations to
These activities should form part of the quickly deliver life-saving information.
disaster management plan. For example,Cisco’s Tactical Operations
(TacOps) takes advantage of the
61
latest mobile networking technology, applied to develop a deeper and more
including cloud-controlled Meraki real-time understanding of both sector
technology, to establish connectivity and service user needs, leading to
when disaster strikes, often faster than faster, more efficient responses which
government or local providers can. ultimately supports beneficiaries. For
example, the World Food Programmes
• Social media solutions: Mobile
(WFP) Mobile Vulnerability Analysis
solutions, social media and digital
and Mapping (mVAM) uses mobile
communities provide a new way for
technology to address the barrier of
organizations and their beneficiaries
aggregate and manual data collection.
to communicate.This includes the
development of a feedback loop • Use of big data in disaster
through which information collected is management:
BIA DATA IN DISATER MANAGEMENT:THE OPPORTUNITIES
Identifying
population
hotsport
Sharing data to Forecasting ground

benefit all partie
s activity
Revealing new
oportunities fo
r
relief and rescue
» Predictive policies- can be » Efficient Allocation of Resources:

developed from previous disasters, Big data generated from geo-
officials and responders can collect informatics and remote sensing
insights that help forecast future platforms help to identify the gaps and
incidents and identification of make the recommendation on where
vulnerable social sections. Combined to allocate resources to mitigate the
with sensor data collection, surveillance risk. This includes helping to monitor
and satellite imagery, big data recovery, focusing early warning and
analytics allows mission-critical areas assessing resilience.
to be surveyed and assessed. Through
» Economic mitigation plans: Big
AI, for instance, Google is predicting
data provides a deeper understanding
flood patterns in India and working to
about how an economy is interconnected
bring greater precision and accuracy to
and how devastation of even a single
response efforts.
62
crop like rice by a disaster can trigger a
chain impact across several industries
and services, such as transportation,
rice-trading, packaging and retail.
Examples of technology use

• Google released its “Person Finder”application immediately after the 2010 Haiti
earthquake. The platform allows anyone to enter missing person’s information
and hopefully reconnect with family members during a disaster. Doing the Haiti
earthquake, for example, citizens updated Google’s Person Finder 5,300 times in
attempts to locate family members.
• Social media also collects data and allows survivors to mark themselves safe in
times of crisis, helpful for both emergency response teams and worried friends and
family alike.
• Ushahidi, is an open-source crisis-mapping software that creates a database of
geotagged and time-stamped reports gathered via email, SMS, or tweets. From
this information, it builds a comprehensive, real-time picture of what is happening
on the ground. Today, Ushahidi V3, or “Ushahidi in the Cloud”, can be accessed by
anyone, even non-developers.
• The American Red Cross offers free mobile apps that put lifesaving information
at the user’s fingertips. The apps give people instant access to more than 35
customizable emergency weather alerts, as well as safety tips and preparedness
information for 14 different types of emergencies and disasters.
• The pilot project was done by Google in collaboration with the Central Water
Commission, to estimate the flood level situation in Patna.
• Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) in collaboration with Regional
Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) has also developed a web
and smartphone-based platform called “SATARK” The application is developed to
provide real time watch, alert and warning information for different hazards like
heatwave, lightning, agriculture risk (drought), flood monitoring.
Disaster Resilient » Non-structural measures

refer to risk-sensitive planning,
Infrastructure (DRI) enabling institutional frameworks,
hazard mapping, ecosystem-based
• Infrastructure that can stand any huge management, and disaster risk
damage from any kind of natural financing.
disaster is known as Disaster Resilient
Infrastructure. It encompasses structural • SDG Goal 9 recognizes disaster resilient
and non-structural measures. infrastructure as a crucial driver of
economic growth and development.
» Structural Measures involve
adjusting engineering designs and
Need for DRI:
standards to reflect disaster risk such • Loss to human life can be
as flood control systems, protective
reduced- It will help achieve targets
embankments, seawall rehabilitation,
pertaining to reduction in mortality
and retrofitting of buildings.
63
and number of affected people due to disaster risk transfer instruments like
disasters. catastrophic bonds.
• Post Disaster Response - The • The “Build Back Better” principle must
public infrastructure sectors - energy, be followed not only for the structural
transportat ion, tele-communication design of the infrastructure but also in
terms of management systems around
• are also crucial to step up the overall
it.
disaster response, thus making their
resilience critical for effective post- 2nd ARC recommendations
disaster response.
• Structural prevention measures
• Bring down the economic Loss- It should be a part of long term disaster
could bring down the economic cost management plan for an area.
of rebuilding the whole set up that the
nations face due to natural disasters. • Appropriate Zoning Regulations need
to be extended to all areas. Phasing of
Steps to be taken: the areas to be covered should be done
based on the intensity of the hazard
• States need to incorporate infrastructure
anticipated.
resilience in their national and local
disaster risk reduction strategies. • Building byelaws should incorporate the
disaster resistant features of buildings.
• Infrastructure regulations must be Since safety codes are complex and
strengthened. This is about developing
technical, it is necessary to issue
risk informed laws, regulations and
simplified guidelines which could be
public policies which prevent the
understood by the citizens.
creation of new risk and reduce existing
risk. • The existing system of enforcement
of building regulations needs to be
• The exposure of infrastructure
revised. It should be professionalised
investments to risk should be measured
by licensing architects and structural
and monitored with disclosure of
engineers for assessment of structures
disaster risks made mandatory.
and certification of safe buildings.
• Actively engage and create incentives • The standards prescribed by BIS for
for private sector to participate in the
disaster resistant buildings should be
quest for building sustainable and
available in the public domain, free of
resilient infrastructure. This is because
cost.
the vast majority of investment for
building infrastructure will be done • In so far as the rural areas are
by the private sector. Without their concerned, methods of dissemination
engagement, it is difficult to meet including setting up of Building
demands and fill the financing gap. Technology Demonstration Centres and
undertaking demonstrative disaster
• Enhance knowledge and build
constructions in severe hazard prone
capacity. Infrastructure development
areas should be taken up.
involves multiple stakeholders, and this
is why awareness-raising, advocacy Coalition for Disaster Resilient
and training programmes targeting Infrastructure (CDRI)
each category of stakeholder across a
range of national and local contexts is • It was launched by PM Modi in
necessary. September 2019 at the UN Secretary-
• Disaster Risk Financing strategy could General’s Climate Action Summit in
include budget reserve funds as well as New York, US.
64
• CDRI is a multi-stakeholder global Rationale for Community Based
partnership of national governments,
UN agencies and programmes, Disaster Management (CBDM):
multilateral development banks and • Disaster risk reduction measures are
financing mechanisms, the private most successful when they involve
sector, and academic and knowledge the direct participation of the people
institutions. At present, it is not an most likely to be exposed to hazards.
intergovernmental organization, Community is the first to respond to a
which are ordinarily treaty-based disaster.
organizations.
• Investments in community- based
• The CDRI aims to promote the resilience preparedness and early warning
of infrastructure systems to climate systems have proved to save lives,
and disaster risks, thereby ensuring protect property, and reduce economic
sustainable development. losses.
• It seeks to rapidly expand the • Failure to understand the risk behaviour
development and retrofit of resilient and culture of local communities can
infrastructure to respond to the lead to badly designed preparedness
Sustainable Development Goals measures including early warning
imperatives of expanding universal systems.
access to basic services, enabling
prosperity and decent work.
• The involvement of local people
promotes self-reliance and ensures
• It brings together a multitude of that emergency management plans
stakeholders to create a mechanism meet local needs and circumstances.
to assist countries to upgrade their indigenous knowledge, wisdom and
capacities, systems, standards, innovation with respect to hazards and
regulations and practices with regard mitigation.
to infrastructure development in
accordance with their risk context and
• Disaster relief and recovery responses
that do not directly involve the affected
economic needs.
communities frequently provide
inappropriate and unsustainable forms
Community based of assistance.
• Organized communities are better able
disaster Manag to demand downward accountability.
ement • A community-level focus facilitates the

identification of vulnerable groups.
• ‘Where communities are equipped and • Community Based Disaster
prepared, disasters clearly have much Management (CBDM) approach
lesser impact, especially in terms of the promotes a bottom-up approach
loss of lives’ -UNISDR working in harmony with the top - down
• Community based disaster risk approach, to address the challenges
reduction has emerged as a key priority and difficulties.
area in disaster risk management. Being
the first responders in such situations,
Indian DM framework and
the community assumes significance Community based disaster
in disaster response, mitigation and Management:
management interventions.
• Disaster Management Act, 2005
65
– It facilitates community training and • Development of effective messaging
awareness programmes for prevention for inducing favourable community
of disaster or mitigation with support response to mitigation, preparedness,
of local authorities, governmental and warning communications
and non-governmental organisations. • Community Empowerment -
It encourages participation of non- Being at the forefronts, communities
governmental organizations and need to have capacity to respond to
voluntary social-welfare institutions threats themselves. It is for this reason
working at the grassroots level in the that communities should be involved in
district for disaster management. managing the risks that may threaten
• National Policy on Disaster their well-being. Provide technical and
Management 2009 (NPDM) - It legal advice to communities to help
lays special emphasis on community them to implement their own mitigation
based disaster preparedness. The projects and programmes, and to
policy recognizes community as the negotiate effectively with governments
bedrock of the process of disaster and agencies.
response. It also gives emphasize on • Time and Resource budgeting –
training, simulations and mock drills of It is important that we follow a process
vulnerable sections. and do it efficiently within a given time
• The National Disaster frame and resources (human, physical
and financial), further it needs to be
Management Plan (NDMP) 2019
ensured, that no step is left midway
– It reinforces the need for enhancing or incomplete without achieving the
the capacity of communities, as they desired result.
are the first responders to disasters
and this capacity building includes • Convergence - Convergence of
awareness, sensitization, orientation government schemes and programs
and developing skills of communities implemented by the national and
and community leaders. state governments is extremely crucial
in the context of community disaster
Steps to be taken: management. Programs for poverty
• Community Preparedness - alleviation, school education and
Community preparedness can be nutrition, maternal and child health,
thought of as the advance capacity drinking water and sanitation programs
of a community to respond to the etc., if implemented carefully, can go a
consequences of an adverse event by long way in empowering communities
having plans in place so that people • Gender sensitive CBDM - Working
know what to do and where to go with existing women's networks helps
if a warning is issued or a hazard is strengthening women's participation
observed. in the community's decision-
Key components of a community making processes. Working with
preparedness program include: existing women's networks helps
strengthening women's participation
• Raising public awareness and effecting in the community's decision-making
behavioural change in the areas of processes.
mitigation and preparedness
• Deployment of stable, reliable, and • Inclusion of other disadvantaged
effective warning systems groups - Most of the deaths and
injuries in the aftermath of a disaster
66
are generally of women, children, in training programmes for elected
disadvantaged groups such as leaders, civil servants, police personnel,
differently abled, socio-economically and personnel in critical sectors such as
disadvantaged groups such as SCs, STs, revenue, agriculture, irrigation, health
senior citizen, etc. Mandatory provision and public works.
of membership to include women • Orientation and sensitization
and other disadvantaged groups in programmes highlighting issues and
various resource groups / working concerns in disaster management
groups / standing committees gives should be taken up for legislators,
an opportunity to adequately voice policy makers, and elected leaders of
their concerns and plan inclusive DM urban local bodies and panchayati raj
interventions. institutions.
2nd ARC recommendations on • NIDM and NDMA would have to play a
building community resilience: vital role in working out the details of
these suggestions for implementation
• Location specific training programmes by different authorities.
for the community should be executed
through the panchayats. • Government and the insurance
companies should play a more pro-
• Crisis management awareness needs to active role in motivating citizens in
be mainstreamed in education. For the vulnerable areas to take insurance
purpose, an appropriate component cover.
of disaster awareness should be
introduced in school, college, university, • Disaster management plans should
professional and vocational education. attempt to integrate traditional
knowledge available with the
• Disaster awareness should be included communities
Case studies of Community based Disaster Management

• Flood Kolhapur, (2019) - From 14th of July 2018 as per the prediction of IMD it rains
heavily in all the 12 blocks of the Kolhapur district. Emergency Management planning
was done under the guidance of District Magistrate (Incident Commander) with all
the line department including AapdaMitra. With the support of trained AapdaMitra
06 lives got saved due to effective communication and efficient response by the
AapdaMitra.
• Cyclone Fani, Odisha,(2019) - Odisha is having 400 trained ApdaMitra in the District
Puri and Jagatsinghpur. ApdaMitra volunteers immediately came into action and did
early warning and supported in evacuation. As soon cyclone Fani started losing grip
ApdaMitra volunteers supported district administration in clearing road, providing first
aid and managing the distribution of food and medical aid and other relief material
at various relief shelters to the cyclone victim.
• Post Earthquake (2001) reconstruction at Kutch region - In response to the disaster,
the Government of Gujarat with the support of the multilateral and bilateral agencies
prepared the Gujarat Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Policy. Consent
and support of villagers were taken into relocation of those villages which got
completely damaged during earthquake. In Setu rehabilitation were also initiated as
alternative approach where villagers were not keen to be got relocated. The villagers
either built their own house by getting financial and technical assistance from the
government.
67
• In the flood-prone rural North-East, one
15th FC can find houses on bamboo stilts that
recommendations on allow flood waters to flow under them
rather than through or over!
Disaster Management • Native intelligence is significant and
technical expertise needs to treat this as
• The Commission recommended complementary. This intelligence needs
setting up National and State Disaster to be tapped for devising approaches
Management Funds (NDMF and to management of disasters. Further,
SDMF) for the promotion of local-level policies and laws for disaster
mitigation activities. The Commission management need to provide space for
has recommended retaining the such intelligence to be counted.
existing cost-sharing patterns between
the centre and states to fund the SDMF Public Address System Saves
(new) and the SDRF (existing). The cost- Lives in Pondicherry Villages
sharing pattern between centre and • In the coastal villages of Nallavadu and
states is (i) 75:25 for all states, and (ii) Veerampattinam in the Union Territory
90:10 for north-eastern and Himalayan of Pondicherry, a Public Address System
states. (PAS) installed in their ‘Rural Knowledge
• The terminology, “Disaster Risk Centres’ saved thousands of lives when
Management” instead of “Disaster the tsunami struck on 26th December,
Management” has been introduced 2004.
for the first time. This signals a move • One of the residents of Nallavadu, who
towards an advanced approach lived abroad, heard about the tsunami
of managing disaster risk, which is and informed his village on telephone.
proactive and preparedness based The villagers used the PAS to warn
rather than response centric. the residents who quickly vacated the
• The term ‘river erosion’ has been used for village and were saved.
the first time in the Finance Commission • In Veerampattinam, a fisherman was
report. This may mark the beginning of repairing his boat when he noticed
systematic efforts to address ‘riverine a dramatic increase in the sea level.
erosion’ as a significant hazard affecting He raised an alarm which alerted the
vulnerable communities. Panchayat leaders who used the PAS to
make the villagers vacate the area.
Some Case Studies Disaster Management in India:
Traditional Knowledge for Success stories
Disaster Management • The Indian government's "zero casualty"
policy for cyclones and the pinpoint
• If tribals in the Andamans could survive accuracy of the India Meteorological
the tsunami, it was because their
Department's (IMD) early warning
existing warning systems worked well in
system has helped reduce the possibility
comparison to our non-existent modern
of deaths from cyclone Fani in Odisha.
systems.
• India's policy of minimising fatalities
• The fact that traditional houses of from cyclones has been proven by past
wood and stone survived the Uttarkashi
performances as in cyclone Phailin in
earthquake not so long ago while
2013, when famously the casualty rate
modern buildings collapsed offered a
was kept to as low as 45 despite the
similar lesson.
intensity of the storm.
68
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Disaster is an event or series of events, which gives

The United Nations defines disaster as “the

India’s geo-climatic conditions as well as its high

Hazard and Disaster other words, the impact of the disaster

It is a calamity or tragedy or a consequence

Water and Geological Chemical, Accident Biological

− Floods and − Landslides - Chemical − Forest fires − Biological

− Thunder − Air, road

Disaster » Mitigation or reduction of risk of any

Management Cycle • Mitigation: Activities aimed at trying

Preparedness Relief / Response

construction of damaged infrastructure

Recovery and habitats and enabling sustainable

disaster to disasters because they lack the

Avalanches Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE)

Cyclone India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Drought Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW)

Earthquake India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Epidemics Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)

Floods Central Water Commission (CWC)

Landslides Geological Survey of India (GSI)

India National Centre for Oceanic Information

Air Accidents Ministry of Civil Aviation

Civil Strife Ministry of Home Affairs

Railway Accidents Ministry of Railways

Ministry of Environment Ministry of

Biological Disaster Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Nuclear Accident inside or outside the

Major breakdown of any of the Essential

» (ii) Statistics on relief, rehabilitation and

• In India, the Ministry of Statistics and

An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the

Massive earthquakes generally occur near the

The Indian sub- continent situated on the boundaries

India has been divided into four seismic zones

» Zone II: Earthquakes

On Ground On Manmade Structures On Water

Mitigation is a national instrument providing

Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that cause

The speed of waves in the ocean depends upon the

After reaching the coast, the tsunami waves release

Since the coastal areas are densely populated the

Tsunami Prevention disasters. Indian National Center for

Tropical cyclones are intense low-pressure areas

Horizontally, it extends up to 500-1,000 km and

Tropical Cyclone in as the implementing agency.

Cyclones Prevention management

Inundation of land and human settlements by the rise

Unlike other natural disasters, the causes of floods

Characteristics of flood are that floods are relatively

Consequence and emphasis should be laid on non-

Control of Floods forecasting and warning, flood plain

and Mitigation central plan at a total cost of 8000 crores

The term ‘drought’ is applied to an extended period

Drought Prone Areas and in identifying the ground water

in India » Dissemination of knowledge about

Landslides mainly affect the Himalayan region and

It is estimated that 30 percent of the world’s