Understanding disasters and disaster
IMPHAL, MONDAY, July 6, 2020
All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
Buddha
Complete lockdown in
Jiribam amid Unlock 2.0
No doubt, something went haywire in deal-
ing with the COVID-19 pandemic at Jiribam.
Whereas the whole country has been slowly
unlocking or opening up after months of
lockdown, the entire Jiribam district has been
constrained to remain under complete
lockdown till July 15. The State Government
is seemingly left with no choice but clamp
curfew in the entire district after 28 police
and VDF personnel tested positive for COVID-
19. Health authorities have already certified
that the mass infection by coronavirus at
Jiribam is a case of cluster transmission. Eve-
ryone will agree that imported COVID-19
cases are bad and cluster transmission is
worse. But what is worst is community trans-
mission which fortunately has not yet been
detected in the State. It was an ASI who
was first tested positive for COVID-19 before
27 other police and VDF personnel were
tested positive. Out of the 27 police and VDF
personnel who were tested positive later,
many did not have any contact with the ASI.
It is this part which the authorities and the
public must pay extra attention. It is for this
very reason that curfew has been clamped in
the entire Jiribam district. Apart from strictest
adherence to prescribed SOP and guidelines,
the situation demands extensive tracing and
testing. The decision of the State Consulta-
tive Committee on COVID-19 to carry out
mass testing in Jiribam is exactly what is
demanded by the unfolding situation. The
mass testing should be done promptly with-
out any delay. All the contacts of the 28
positive people should be traced and put in
quarantine centres or isolation wards, de-
pending on the individual cases.
As stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
the lockdown or curfew cannot go on for-
ever. The Prime Minister went on record
stating there won’t be any fresh lockdowns
anywhere in the country. But unluckily,
Jiribam has been put under a fresh lockdown
albeit in the form of curfew. As demanded by
the situation, the State has already spent
over three months under complete and par-
tial lockdown. Even though the lockdown has
been relaxed to a considerable extent, life is
still quite far from being normal. In fact, every
aspect of life has been either thrown out of
gear or brought to a complete halt. Lockdown
means confinement of all the population
within their houses which implies complete
curtailment of one’s freedom of movement.
With neither vaccine nor drugs available to
treat COVID-19, the only and best way to
protect oneself from the virus is prevention.
It is on this very premise that the lockdown
is justified and also accepted by the masses.
In fact, the adage ‘Prevention is better than
cure’ has been always true and it is truest in
the present context of novel coronavirus.
Lockdown is basically about minimising social
contact and interaction to the lowest level.
Certainly all possible preventive and precau-
tionary measures should be taken up at
individual as well as community level. Trac-
ing, testing and isolation must be done on
war-footing lest cluster transmission is trans-
formed into community transmission. The
COVID-19 situation in Jiribam must be
brought under control as quickly as possible
so that it is not left out of the unlocking
process which has been already put in mo-
tion in the State and elsewhere across the
country. Of course, the fight against COVID-
19 must continue but the State should not
overlook the crippling impacts of the pro-
tracted lockdown on all aspects of life.
Science News
Why some words may be more
memorable than others
NEWYORK, Jul 5
Thousands of words, big and small, are crammed inside our
memory banks just waiting to be swiftly withdrawn and strung
into sentences. In a recent study of epilepsy patients and healthy
volunteers, National Institutes of Health researchers found that
our brains may withdraw some common words, like "pig,"
"tank," and "door," much more often than others, including
"cat," "street," and "stair." By combining memory tests, brain
wave recordings, and surveys of billions of words published
in books, news articles and internet encyclopedia pages, the
researchers not only showed how our brains may recall words
but also memories of our past experiences.
"We found that some words are much more memorable
than others. Our results support the idea that our memories
are wired into neural networks and that our brains search
for these memories, just the way search engines track
down information on the internet," said Weizhen (Zane)
Xie, Ph.D., a cognitive psychologist and post-doctoral
fellow at the NIH's National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), who led the study pub-
lished in Nature Human Behaviour. "We hope that these
results can be used as a roadmap to evaluate the health of
a person's memory and brain."
Dr. Xie and his colleagues first spotted these words
when they re-analyzed the results of memory tests taken by
30 epilepsy patients who were part of a clinical trial led by
Kareem Zaghloul, M.D., Ph.D., a neurosurgeon and senior
investigator at NINDS. Dr. Zaghloul's team tries to help
patients whose seizures cannot be controlled by drugs,
otherwise known as intractable epilepsy. During the obser-
vation period, patients spend several days at the NIH's
Clinical Center with surgically implanted electrodes de-
signed to detect changes in brain activity.
"Our goal is to find and eliminate the source of these
harmful and debilitating seizures," said Dr. Zaghloul. "The
monitoring period also provides a rare opportunity to record
the neural activity that controls other parts of our lives.
With the help of these patient volunteers we have been able
to uncover some of the blueprints behind our memories."
ScienceDaily
management with special reference to Manipur
A disaster is an extreme event, may be natural or man-made which
brings loss of life property, essential services and means of Laishram Sherjit Singh
livelihood to an extent which exceeds the ability of the affected Disaster response- action by which extra-ordinary meas-
people to cope using their own resources. A hazard may be ures are taken to support human needs and protect property
regarded as a pre-disaster situation. A hazardous situation turns after the occurrence of the disaster
into a disaster event when the affected community needs immediate Recovery- a process during which the community is as-
assistance and support to deal with the situation. Disasters can be sisted to restore normalcy on all fronts and move towards
broadly classified as Natural disaster and man-made development overcoming the gaps created by disaster
(anthropogenic) disasters. United Nations define natural disaster Development- it is an ongoing activity which has to be
as – the occurrence of a sudden or major misfortune which disrupts resumed. It includes long term prevention/ disaster reduction
the basic fabric and normal functioning of a society or community. measures. For example – construction of embankments to
Man-made disaster may be defined as man-made events (sudden control flood
or progressive) causing an emergency situation that disrupt the Disaster prevention- prevention is to ensure that human
normal pattern of life, affect people and impact on the social action or natural phenomenon do not result in disaster. It is
structures including economic damage. Disasters can also be focused on stopping the disaster from happening.
classified as cataclysmic or rapid onset and long term or continuing Mitigation- it refers to action taken in advance to reduce
based on duration of their occurrence. Cataclysmic disasters take or eliminate the risk arising out of disasters.
place in short duration i.e. one large scale event causes most of the Preparedness- measures to ensure the reaction and ability
damages and destruction but soon dissipates, for example- of society to forecast and take precautionary measures.
earthquakes. In continuing disaster, the event remains constant or
may even deteriorate further, for examples- draught and
environmental degradation.
Table no. 1. Vulnerability to Hazards (district wise) (Source: modified from Manipur State
Disaster Management Plan Volume 1)
Disaster management comprises mainly three stages- pre
Earthquake
Landslides
Districts
Cyclone
Draught
Flood
Imphal West √ √ √ √
Imphal East √ √ √ √
√ √ √ √
Thoubal
Kakching √ √ √ √
Tamenglong √ √ √ √
√ √ √ √
Noney
Jiri √ √ √ √
Fig. 1 Types of disasters Ukhrul √ √ √ √
Kamjong √ √ √ √
disaster stage (prevention, mitigation and preparedness phase), Bishenpur √ √ √ √
during disaster stage (response phase) and post disaster phase Churchandpur √ √ √ √
(recovery and development phase). The different phases of Pherzawl √ √ √ √
disaster management are represented in the following diagram √ √ √ √
Senapati
(fig. 2).
Kangpokpi √ √ √ √
Chandel √ √ √ √
Tengnoupal √ √ √ √
The following are some disasters which are vulnerable to
our state. Let us discuss them briefly including their important
sources, impacts and mitigative measures. Some selected case
studies are also given for better understanding the impact of
disasters.
FLOOD- Flood means inundation due to overflowing of
a large volume of water. It may also be defined as the mass
of water rising, swelling and overflowing land.
Causes
- Heavy precipitation
- Storm surge
- Inadequate drainage
- waterlogging
Impacts
- loss of lives and
property
- damage crops and
agricultural land
Fig. 2 Disaster management cycle (Source: Manual on - soil erosion
Natural Disaster Management in India, NCDM, New Delhi) - siltation of fields
Fig. 4 Flood hazard zona-
Flood hazard zonation o Mitigation
tion of Imphal valley (Source: - modify the floods
BMTPC) that involves the catchment
and land use modification,
physical control works such as reservoirs and embankments
- modify the susceptibility that includes flood forecast-
ing, warning and flood plain management
- modify the loss burden inflicted by floods on the
people including construction of reservoir and embankments
Case study: 2017 Flood of Manipur
2017 flood of Manipur affects many parts of the valley.
Districts which are affected by this flood are-Imphal East,
Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishenpur and Kackching. Number of
household affected by this flood is estimated to be about
14000 (Media, IAG Manipur, 2017). River bank breaching
was reported from Bashikhong area, Imphal east and other
parts of the state. Over 5000 people have taken shelters in
various relief camps. Roads are damages in hilly districts like
Kangpokpi and Litan area, Ukhrul district.
Fig. 3 Disaster Management plan at State level DRAUGHT; Draught is a general term implying a defi-
The mirror of life
The best and the worst is yet to floor you – so, keep practicing. The worst
you thought happened so far – is just another one lesser compared to the
one just happened that you are still stuck in. Confused? It only is the
worst if you can’t get out – but the moment you step a foot ahead, pain
You must be seeing a lot in resume now-a-days – I am energetic
turns into lessons for you and inspiration for others.
and goal oriented. Goal oriented? Do you know where they land?
Pain is a consequence but suffering is a choice, happiness is
a choice but happenings are mostly consequences. Pains give the
-YOUNG THOUGHTS-
same feelings but different lessons. But again, pain is also a
budding pride – it’s painful to be dragged by the pain but if you
take it upon your shoulders, it’s a prize that facilitates you with the Birkarnelzelzit Thiyam
'pride.' If pains are so important, why dilute away from reality at
times thinking it would heal you. Under people who are process
Do you know what a happy story is? A painful story. See how oriented. For success doesn’t
ironical that is. Let’s go into what is pain, how do we define the come with how strong you
lowest point of life? Or let me put it this way – who mostly feels desire to be successful but how
that they often face the lowest points of their life? The one who
wants to be the best. See – life is a mirror of pain and pleasure,
much you are honest with the
process. Success is a conse-
to get the highest pleasure you need to face the hardest pain. Seems quence of the process. Right
after some certain educational
like a right statement but NO. If you seek to be the best, you stop
worrying about getting better. For what is next to best? Nothing. levels, they want the prize of
their bubbly works – i.e. a job,
So, when they face a hard situation, they let it define them making
them feel like it’s the worst – because that ‘wannabe the best’ house, salary, car. So, they
submit their learned ideas to
attitude flies in ‘literally inverted’ to feel the worst too. But if you
are someone who loves only getting better – the best and the worst those who keep learning – it’s
will always be for tomorrow. Do you know who these ‘wannabe simple: prize or process.
the best’ people are? They are goal oriented people. Am I wrong? What if they are happy with what they get? And my question
The larger aspect of life: The importance of the way we think
As someone thinks within himself, so he is. ~Bible (Pro. 23:7)
There is always something bigger; something deeper and
Janghaolun Haokip
something seldom incomprehensible –something much more we face in our society at large. Our problems, much more than
than what we can see. But the eyes are deceiving that it often not, are problems of the way we think and the supposed
makes us believe through it without much sensible specula- urgency of our minds to come to conclusions. The evils of
tion. The mind is no less formidable in dictating us to come society, of hatred and prejudice and all its kinds, though
to conclusion without much time for a rationale. And so are largely inevitable, are all results of the way we think. It can
the senses we have, that are intrinsically a part of us –our therefore certainly be argued that problems arise when we are
existence –often tempting us to jump to conclusions without ignorant and arrogant of our differences with each other, and
much ado. What is often left out and disregarded becomes a when we also fail to acknowledge the individuality of a person
profound, objective, and critical thinking or simply the way and as such the societal values within a society. It is rather
we think. imperative to give due credence to a person’s dignified integ-
What we often need in life, in everyday circumstances that rity, and also due civility rendered to the society, realising also
the fact that the otherwise will be detrimental for a person and
we are confronted with, with or without our consciousness,
is always a mechanism to defy adversities that can befall our the society as a whole. Likewise solutions pertaining to other
problems are more or less the same as said of a person. It
life. The most important mechanism to that, albeit the numer-
ous, is largely our thought formulation or the way we think, demands the necessity to form an encompassing thought for-
mulation and the readiness of patience required for it.
that unfortunately is the most unrecognised. Situations then
seldom realise to seek for the lasting good, in fact, the lasting Moreover, everything from relationship to work requires cer-
tain elements of thinking and problem-solving, it is the
good is not even realised, shadowed by the assumed realiza-
tion of a passing solution, especially when faced with a mechanism that leads us to consider our problems and find
subsequent answers.
problem. The problem thus is failed to be seen in its nature
because of the urgency to respond to it which is pressed by The dangers remain unchallenged; and us being unaware of
our failure to form an objective thought process. This mistake
our presuppositions and our shallow experiences which are
is rarely realised but gets consoled with a rather shallow
largely the failures of our mind to think is rooted in. We,
solution to the problem than an underlying truth or reality that
therefore, like accidentally touching a fire, readily respond,
which almost projects like automation. is the true cause of the problem. In a compendium, the things
Considerations may be made in the context of the problems that we see are much more than what can immediately be
Road accident
Dam Burst
Biological
disaster
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Deforestation
Forest fire
pollution
Water
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ciency of precipitation of sufficient magnitude to interfere with
some phase of the local economy (McGraw Hill Concise
Encyclopedia of Science and Technology).
Causes
- change in rainfall pattern or deficiency in monsoon
rain
- change in land-use pattern
- large scale deforestation and climate change
Impacts
- loss of crops and agricultural production that leads to
famine
- loss of water for domestic, agricultural and industrial
purpose
- hydroelectric power generation decreases
- change in settlement pattern
Mitigation
- watershed management
- check dams to store water
- proper selection of crops and modifying cropping
pattern
- afforestation and reforestation
- control land use pattern
Case study: Manipur Draught 2019
Manipur government declared draught in 70 blocks of the
Building fire
state. Rainfall was more than 50% deficit in the state while
reservoirs have more than 60% deficit level. As per initial esti-
mates, villagers of these blocks had reported crop failure ranging
√ from 33% to more than 50%. The draught impacted severely in
√ the valley although several hill blocks also affected. As a result
government activated 157 lift irrigation schemes and purchased
many water pump sets to help farmers for irrigation.
√
CYCLONE: The large whirling mass of air at the center of
√
√
which atmospheric pressure is low is known as cyclone. Cy-
√
√ clones are characterized by inward spiralling winds that rotate
√ about a zone of low pressure.
√
Cause
- It is caused by lifting of an air mass due to pressure
√
difference. If the low pressure occurs in the area, the air will flow
√
horizontally from the surrounding area causing the air in the low
√
√ pressure to lift.
√ Impacts
- Large causalities and considerable damage to life, property
and agricultural crops
- Sometimes, cyclone brings heavy rain that causes flood
- Collapse of buildings, falling trees, flying debris, electro-
cution, aircraft accidents and disease from contaminated food and
water.
Mitigation
- Early warning and forecasting
- Public awareness
- Relocating the people in safer place
EARTHQUAKE: An earthquake is a shaking of the earth’s
crust due to breaking and shifting of rocks(faulting) beneath the
earth’s surface. It may also define as the shaking of the earth’s
surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the earth’s
lithosphere that creates seismic waves.
Causes
- Sudden movements along the faults (tectonic earthquakes)
- Volcanic eruptions (volcanic earthquakes)
Impacts
- Building and Bridge collapse
- Change in underground water source
- Damage water and gas pipelines
- Death and damage due to collapse of infrastructure includ-
ing buildings
Mitigation
- Aseismic design of building or retrofitting of buildings/
houses to reduce the vulnerability of the structures
- Proper land-use planning to avoid potentially high hazard
zones
- Community preparedness through awareness and mutual
assistance
Case Study: Manipur earthquake 2016
On 4th January 2016 an earthquake of Mw 6.7 occurred near
the Noney village of Tamenglong district, 30 km WNW of Imphal,
Manipur. The focal depth of the earthquake is 38km. This is the
largest earthquake to have occurred in the region during last six
decades. The earthquake is of moderate MM intensity VII. As the
epicentral zone is in forest area damage is less. Some 8 deaths are
reported in India and some in Bangladesh. Some 165 houses
collapsed in Imphal and a few partially collapsed at Guwahati and
Silchar. Damage in Imphal is more as it is on a soft sedimentary
basin and is close to the epicenter. To be continued
to that question is, what if that is not happiness but a consequence
of living in a small bubble? And what if realization hits when time
doesn’t stand in their favour? Then? Die by cussing “should have
bloody listened to my heart.” Is this not what the future holds for
them?
Clarity is the driver for getting through the unclear. Confused?
“I believe I can do this,” how many have heard this? All. Belief
makes you concretize what you don’t know – making you walk
in thinking you can only use what you know to fight the unknown.
But if you accept what you don’t know, your power of attention
will increase - seeking to do the undone to get the unknown. So,
clarity is not about knowing how to fight but accepting where you
stand without assuming you can fight. Because you only can
improve from where you stand – and if you don’t know where
you stand, you really are lost in the middle of a fiasco.
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholders, and belief lies in the
perspective of the believers. And if you think the war is between
good and the bad, you are wrong. It’s between how you see and
how the other sees, so “believing” is a very complex thing. It will
make a mess out of your reality.
Lastly, you are not what you believe or what people believe,
you are what you still don’t know – you are more than you know
– you are what you still can be. Little secret – ‘I don’t know’ has
more possibility than ‘I know.’
The writer can be reached at
birkarnelzelzitthiyam3073@gmail.com
perceived of it. Specifically, the problems that exist have a
deeper entity than what we see, and therefore in our failure
to see the larger entity, our formulation of what the immediate
case would be often becomes another problem. We therefore
tend to it with superficial, narrow, and doubled mindsets while
we remain ignorant about the fact that we are dealing with. We
fail to look at the aspects of circumstances, thereby failing to
explore all its variables. The failure is also limiting our
thoughts that should be explored to its limits. It is indeed an
unfortunate setback, often unrealised, for the minds to not
know what it’s going through or not to understand at all how
it all should come about.
The failure to confront our own thinking becomes a big
problem with or without our consent. Some psychologists
state that we are the product of our minds. It simply empha-
sizes the central role that our minds as a whole and our
thought processes or thought formulation in particular play in
our lives. The mind also is the mastermind of our beings as
it directly or indirectly dictates our actions that shape who we
are. And because of this fact, there are cognitive analytics who
argue that the mind controls the reality of our lives. Implicit
is the fact that the mind before it is made to think has to be
conditioned on how to think. This, as weird as it sounds, has
to be realised by a person before acting out on his/her readied
thoughts or conclusions. The mind has to be conditioned on
expanding its horizons, broadening its perspectives, besides a
more inclusive approach to various extensions of the circum-
stances. To be continued