DISASTER MANAGEMENT ASPECTS OF EARTHQUAKE PRONE STATES IN PLAIN

REGION OF INDIA

ABSTRACT
In this study, an attempt is made to present the disaster management plan of 5 different states
of India. Our overall approach was to collect the data from disaster management authority of
each state and comparative studies are done. Most of state have their own official website for
disaster management where various training programme are given. The previous years disaster
data also shown in this paper and steps taken by various state governments to keep the loss to
minimum if any disaster happens in future are also included. The states discussed in this
abstract are Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa.

1.INTRODUCTION
Various hazards like earthquake, fires, cyclones, landslides, volcanic eruptions and floods
become disaster killing thousands of people and destroy billions of rupees of habitat and
property each year. With the tropical climate and unstable land forms, coupled with
deforestation, unplanned and non-engineered construction and tardy communication makes
these areas more prone to disaster. Developing countries suffers more by natural disaster. India
has been traditionally vulnerable for natural disaster on the account of its unique Geo climatic
condition. Flood, drought, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been recurrent
phenomena. At the global level there has been considerable concern over natural disaster.
Even substantially scientific and material progress is made, the loss the loss of lives and
property due to disaster has not increased. Over the past couple years government of India has
brought paradigm shift in the approach to disaster management. Following research paper
deals with the disaster management policies of 5 different states of india.

2. STATE DISASTER MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE

Various state boards have launched their official websites for mitigating disaster in
collaboration with state institutes and other govt/non-govt. agencies. Over the years these
disaster have caused extensive damage to life and property and have adversely impacted
economic development. Hence the govt. has asked all the states for improving the disaster
management and to launch an official website for mitigating disaster.

2.1 BIHAR

Bihar is located in the high seismic zone that falls on the boundary of the tectonic plate joining
himalyan tectonic plate near the Bihar_Nepal border and has six sub surface fault lines
moving towards the Gangetic planes in four directions. its official website:
http://bsdma.org/Home.aspx .It provides Rules and regulation, Hazard map , Natural map ,
Manmade hazard , District Flood hazard atlas and provide steps Do and Dont before, during
and after an earthquake. Disaster management plans: SDMP , DDMP , ODMP , HDMP , SCHOOL
DMP , MGEM.Our Activities: Training , workshop , meetings , safety weeks , foundation day ,
programs , collaboration

2.2 DELHI

official website : http://www.delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_dm/DM/Home .Delhi disaster

management authority includes Vulnerability, Disaster management initiatives, Resources,
Delhi disaster management plan, Circular, DDMA, Telephone directory

2.3 GUJARAT

official website : http://www.gsdma.org/ it includes:-

Emergency Response: SEOC, DEOCs, TEOCs, ERCs, Equipment/vehicles provided to municipal

coroporations and municipalities, creation of state disaster response force. Disaster
management Plans: State level disaster management plans , State level earthquake &tsunami
management plan , Action plan for nuclear & radiological disaster , State level cyclone
preparedness and response plan , State level chemical & industrial management plans , Disaster
management plans at other levels. Hazard Risk mitigation studies: Hazard risk and vulnerability
assessment , Had early & emergency communication damage & loss assessment methodology ,
review of building codes , feasibility study on sesmic microzonation , establishment of Gujarat
institute of disaster management , flood vulnerability study of four major cities , seismic micro
zonation of gandhigam , flood & seismic vulnerability , Climate variability & climate change ,
multi hazard risk assessment, flood mitigation study for dhadhar basin , Active fault mapping
along south wagadh.

2.4 MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtra do not have an official website site but they have disaster related site that is
http://mdmu.maharashtra.gov.in/index.php . Maharashtra State has a profile of varied hazards and

was first in India to start a Disaster Management Unit (DMU) after the Latur earthquake. Since
1993, Disaster Management (DM) in Maharashtra is fast evolving from a reactive response
oriented to proactive strategy based system.

2.5 GOA

The Goa state administratively is divided into two districts: North Goa district comprising six
talukas with a total area of 17736sq. kms and south Goa comprises five talukas with an area of
1966 sq. kms. No official website is available.

3. DISASTER VULNERABILITY
3.1 BIHAR

Hazard Profile: Flood, Drought, Fire and Earthquake

Earthquake

Total15.2% area bihar Total63.7% area bihar Total21.1% area bihar

covered in Zone V covered in Zone IV covered in Zone III

Flood

Flood Most Vulnerable East Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Katihar, Madhubani,

Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Madhepra,
Supaul, Saharsa, Khagaria, Begusarai, Bhagalpur.
Vulneraable West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Buxar,
Bhojpur, Patna, Nalanda, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Purnia,
 Araria, Kishanganj
Drought : Vulnerable District

Gaya, Nawada Jamui, Nalanda, Lakhisarai

Jahanabad, Arwal, Aurangabad
Kaimur, Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Banka

3.2 DELHI

Hazard Profile: Earthquake, fire and flood

3.3 GUJARAT

Hazard Profile: Cyclone , Earthquake

As per Indian Seismic Zone Map, Gujarat region is lies in three zones- Zone III, IV and V. Gujarat falls in
the region of tropical cyclone. With the longest coast line of 1600km in the country , it is highly
vulnerable to associated hazards such as floods, storm surges etc. Two cyclonic storm seasons
are experienced in Gujarat: May to June (advancing southwest monsoon) and September to
November (retreating monsoon).

3.4 MAHARASHTRA

Hazard Profile - Flood, Drought, Tsunami

Previous year data of various disasters in Maharashtra is not available

3.5 GOA

Hazard Profile: Floods, Tsunami, Fire, Landslide

The nongovernment Organization and voluntary agencies play an important role in disaster
management and provide a strong band of committed volunteers. The activities in which
NGOs/voluntary involved during disaster management operation are: Search and rescue
operations, first aid, damage assessment, mobilization and distribution of relief supplies
including finances, management of information centres at temporarys helter, disposal of dead.

4. DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

4.1 BIHAR

SDMP includes the vulnerability of different parts of the state to different forms of disasters
and and measures adopted for prevention and mitigation of disasters. The capacity building
and preparedness measure to be taken. The roles and responsibility of each department of
the government of the state in responding to any threatening disaster situation.
DDPM includes the areas in the district vulnerable to different forms of disasters and the
measures to be taken, for prevention and mitigation of disaster, by the Departments of the
Government at the district level and local authorities in the district.it provides allocation of
responsibilities to the Departments of the Government at the district level , procurement of
essential resources establishment of communication links and the dissemination of
information to the public.
ODMP includes assessment(such as fire safety and Electrical assessment, data safety, nonstructural
and structural safety assessment ), map making (Hazard, Resource & Emergency Exit map), early
warning team, search and rescue team communication team etc
HDMP ensures family is relatively well prepared for a disaster and other incidents. It also
discussing home disaster preparedness with family (such as family know how to call for help, fixed
potential hazards, family disaster supply kit etc).

SCHOOL DMP includes following steps

Awareness Identification of hazards- Training teachers -Formation of various task

including warning & awareness-listing the contact information of all the resource agencies-
Conducting emergency evacuation mock drill to participate

MGEM is mass gathering events religious organized at various levels involving large no. of
people. In such situations governments and administration seem to be struggling to make
fool proof arrangements for such events . due to unforeseen circumstances, there have
been many unfortunate incidents happening causing loss of lives, damage of property,
mental agony etc

4.2 DELHI
No officially link available of disaster management plan but Delhi disaster management draft
plan is available at the officially site.

4.3 GUJARAT

As per the provisions of the Gujarat state disaster management act, 2003, the state has to
prepare a state disaster management plan (SDMP) keeping in mind the vulnerability of state to
various hazards.Soft copy of the SDMP can be downloaded from the available links below:
Gujarat State Disaster Management Plan (Vol-I, Vol-II, Vol-III)

4.4 MAHARASHTRA

As such there is no official site but Maharashtra disaster management plan is available
(http://geospatialworld.net/Paper/Application/ArticleView.aspx?aid=927).Maharashtra revises
disaster management plan, separate strategy for more vulnerable women population which
aims to Aims to reduce women's death, maternal and newborn morbidity, sexual violence
during disasters.

4.5 GOA

Goa disaster management works on the issues Clinical and administrative. No link is available.
Clinical issues involved the triage of the mass casualties which arrive at the Veterinary
hospital/dispensary, the non-serious livestocks which arrive earlier than the serious livestock
and demand attention, the unknown nature of disaster especially if it is a chemical hazard and
hence dilemma in treatment or specific drugs being not available and the crises expansion of
the emergency services. Administrative issues involved: Documentation-Police Documentation-
communications-medicines-Press and broadcasting service-vehicle service-Emergency light-
disposal of dead livestock.

5. TRAINING AND CAPACITY PROGRAM

5.1 BIHAR

Page under construction, but still they conduct Training & Mock-Drill(The level of preparedness)
and to ascertain the response procedure pertaining to any disaster is followed : To test
emergency preparedness level of the office. To correct mistakes of various role players in the
office. To avoid misunderstanding in roles and responsibilities. To have a better coordination
among the teams.To make the employees used to reacting instantly/correctly. To check proper
functioning of instruments used by disaster response teams as per ODMP guidelines
5.2 DELHI

No such page is available

5.3 GUJARAT

TRAINING: Fire safety and search & rescue Trainings, Fire safety training to rapid Action force
personnel(RAF), Special search & Rescue Training, Urban search and Rescue (USAR) and
Medical First Responder(MFRT) Training to fire Personnel, Basic fire safety training.

WORKSHOP: Workshop on handling of Radiological and Nuclear emergencies

5.4 MAHARASHTRA: There is no at the official site. But information available for the disaster
management training programme held in Maharashtra in the link

Categories
Sr. Training Programme Total Total Participant
NGO Other
No Year conducted Participants Days
A B C

2006-
1 69 994 775 314 95 1373 3551 5462
2007

2007-
2 123 873 595 3903 85 11 5467 9812
2008

2008-
3 87 816 559 502 107 224 2208 6467
2009

2009-
4 100 220 387 1137 50 43 1837 4485
2010

Total 379 2,903 2,316 5,856 337 1,651 13,063 26,226

Programmes conducted till date April 2010 - July 2010

Training programmes Total Participant Days Participants

In-house 7 21 143
Outreach 22 66 841

Total 29 87 984

Programmes proposed to be conducted August 2010 - March 2011

Training programmes Total Participant Days Expected Participants

In-house 12 36 300

Outreach 19 57 475

Total 31 93 775

5.5 GOA

No information available for the disaster management training programme

6. INFORMATION EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (IEC)

6.1 BIHAR

Mukhyamantri School Safety Program sensitized and trained children and teachers on
preparedness measures, promoted capacity building of officials and implemented structural
and non- structural mitigation method to make school a safe place for children.

BSDMA & Education Department succeeded in sensitizing 2 crore school children on the
basics of mock drill for safety against earthquake, fire and disaster preparedness through
the mukhyamantri school safety Programme.

More than 50 lakh four page brochure on processes of School Mock Drill was printed by the
Education Department for distribution across the 76000 schools in 38 districts Of Bihar.

6.2 DELHI

Carrying out awareness campaigns and capacity development programs: Workshops, Seminars,
Trainings Mock drills, Publicity through media campaign

6.3 GUJARAT

Information and communication table are available in brochure in GSDM plan vol-III.

IEC material distribution stall Palli fair in Rupal village of Gandinagar.

 Hazard manuals developed for earthquake , cyclone, food and industrial accidents have
been distributed to the district officials in the state.

Disaster Management and Mitigation Awareness Generated at all levels

Apatti Sajjata- Childrens work Book on preparedness in gujarati

6.4 MAHARASHTRA

There is no IEC material available.

6.5GOA

7 There is no IEC material available.

CONCLUSIONS
We cannot stop earthquakes, but we can learn more in hopes of discovering ways to protect
ourselves from them. After a research on disaster management plans in five states (Bihar, Delhi,
Gujarat, Maharashtra and GOA) of India, 2 out of 5 states are reportedly more concerned about
protecting their people from disaster; even though no disaster management plans are found on
their respective website.

Following conclusion are made from each state website:

1. On Bihars website, various links are available such as SDMP, DDMP, ODMP, HDMP, SCHOOL
DMP, MGEM and the website is still under progress.
2. The State Disaster Management Authority of Gujarats website features all the plans related
to disaster management for all districts except Hamirpur.
3. In case of Delhi Disaster Management Authority, no plans are currently available on the
official website.
4. Goa state do not provide any information on mitigation measure for reduction of
earthquake impact including implementation of zoning and building codes.
5. In case of IEC material Gujarat state had done a good work.
6. In case of disaster management plan Bihar state is best amongother states
7. In case of training and capacity Maharashtra is best they have provided a lot of training.

REFERENCES
1. http://bsdma.org/Home.aspx
2. http://www.delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_dm/DM/Home
3. http://www.gsdma.org/
4. http://mdmu.maharashtra.gov.in/index.php
5. http://disastermgmt.bih.nic.in/bsdma%20plan/00%20INDEX.pdf
6. http://bsdma.org/images/publication/EQ%20Damage%20Scenario.pdf
7. http://bsdma.org/images/global/Madhubani%20Vol-I.pdf
8. http://bsdma.org/images/global/Madhubani%20Vol-II.pdf
9. http://bsdma.org/images/publication/ODMP%20Phase-I%20Guidelines.pdf
10. http://bsdma.org/images/publication/Office%20Disaster%20Management%20Plan%20
%20Template.PDF
11. http://www.delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/5366420040f86897b402be7a69ad66a3/10
_Disaster+Management+in+Delhi.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&lmod=-
300985446&CACHEID=5366420040f86897b402be7a69ad66a3
12. http://www.gsdma.org/disaster-management-plans/state-level-cyclone-
preparedness.aspx
13. http://www.nicee.org/IITK-GSDMA_Codes.php
14. http://www.gsdma.org/disaster-management-plans/state-level-chemical-industrial-
disaster-management-plan.aspx
15. http://www.gsdma.org/disaster-management-plans/state-level-chemical-industrial-
disaster-management-plan.aspx
16. http://www.gsdma.org/disaster-management-plans/action-plan-for-nuclear.aspx
17. http://www.nicee.org/IITK-GSDMA_Codes.php
18. http://www.gsdma.org/disaster-management-plans/state-level-earthquake.aspx
19. http://www.goadfes.gov.in/images/uploads/disaster_2011.pdf
20. http://northgoa.gov.in/DMA%202012.pdf
21. http://nidm.gov.in/pdf/dp/Maharashtra.pdf
22. http://sindhudurg.nic.in/site/htmldocs/pdf/disaster.pdf