ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I would like to express my gratitude and sincere thanks to my Social Studies

teacher Ms. Rachna, for her guidance and contribution to the completion of
my project.

I would like to express my gratitude to all my school teachers and the

Headmistress, Modern School Vasant Vihar, for their valuable advice and
suggestions always.

I am eternally grateful to all my mentors and my parents for their guidance and
everlasting support.

Date

Vedant Malhotra
INDEX
01. Acknowledgment
02. Natural Disaster
03. Types of Disaster
04. Delhi – Disaster Hazard Assement
05. Earthquake
06. Table of Earthquake Data
07. Disaster Management
08. Disaster Management Act, 2005
09. Risk reduction measures for earthquakes
10. Conclusion
11. Bibliography
NATURAL DISASTER
According to the United Nations, a disaster is a major disruption of a
community or society’s ability to function that involves extensive effects on
people, property, the economy, or the environment and beyond the capacity
of the affected community or society to deal using its own resources. A
disaster is a result from the combination of hazard, vulnerability and
insufficient capacity or measures to reduce the potential chances of risk. A
disaster happens when a hazard impacts on the vulnerable population and
causes damage, casualties and disruption.

TYPES OF DISASTERS
Disasters can be of two types:
1. Natural can be further classified as:

(i) Meteorological Cyclones, Floods, Blizzard, Tornado, Thunderstorms,

Droughts, Extreme Cold/Hot

(ii) Geological Earthquake, Landslide, Volcanic Eruptions, Tsunami

(iii) Environmental/Biological Global Warming, Climate Change, Ozone

Depletion, Solar Flares, Plagues, Epidemics

2. Man Made Man made can be further classified as:

(i) Technological Transport Accidents, Structure failures, Explosion, Fires

(ii) Industry Pollution, Chemical Spill, Radiation, Gas leaks, poisoning (iii) War
fares Terrorism, War, Internal Conflicts, Civil unrest

DELHI - DISASTER HAZARD ASSESSMENT

EARTHQUAKE
An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the earth caused by the breaking and
shifting of rock beneath the earth's surface and followed by a series of
vibrations. Earthquakes can cause buildings and bridges to collapse, telephone
and power lines to fall, and result in fires, explosions and landslides.

FLOOD HAZARD
Floods in Delhi are not nature's wrongdoing, it is invariably the irresponsibility
of the authorities and those who are totally insensitive of human life blinded
by the economics of haves and haves not. This is very clear from the recurring
phenomenon of floods in the mighty river Yamuna and flash floods caused by
rains due to choked drains of Delhi.

FIRE HAZARD
Fires can occur due to chemicals, LPG, explosives as well as short circuits of
electrical systems.

EPIDEMICS HAZARD
In all the districts of Delhi, preventive, primitive and curative health is being
looked after by the health department. There are also Dispensaries, referral
hospitals and community hospitals supplementing the task.

INDUSTRIAL HAZARDS
Industrial accidents are defined as any incident connected with an
uncontrolled development (such as leak, fire and / or explosion) of an
industrial activity involving a serious immediate or delayed hazard to man and
/ or the environment. Industrial accidents may occur as a result of natural
phenomena, such as earthquakes, forest fires etc. However, most accidents
occur as a result of human activity leading to accidental or deliberate harm.

TERRORIST ATTACKS AND BOMB BLASTS

Delhi being National Capital is also under the threat of any form of
conventional and contemporary warfare.

EARTHQUAKE
SEISMICITY IN DELHI:
Seismicity in North India, including the Himalayas, is due to collision of the
Indian plate with Eurasian plate. It is seen that the Delhi region has a long
seismic history being affected by earthquakes of local origin as well as those of
Himalayan origin. Delhi is located in zone IV which has fairly high seismicity
where the general occurrence of earthquakes is of 5-6 magnitude, a few of
magnitude 6-7 and occasionally of 7-8 magnitude. Delhi thus lies among the
high-risk areas. Impact of the earthquake in Delhi may compound the expected
colossal damage due to various other factors such as physical location and
hydrogeology (combination of geology and groundwater) details.

PAST TRENDS OF EARTHQUAKES IN DELHI:

Delhi has been a witness to earthquakes in the past. Mahabharata mentions
earthquakes during the war at Kurukshetra (Circa 3000 BC). More recently,
damage to Delhi in the 1720 earthquakes (intensity IX in Delhi) is well
discussed by Kafi Khan (Iyengar, 2000).

Delhi has also sustained earthquake damage in more recent times. For
instance, Srivastava and Somayajuluy (1966) mention of (a) Khurja earthquake
(M6.7) of 10 October 1956 in which 23 persons were killed in Bulandshahr and
some injured in Delhi; (b) M6.0 earthquake of 27 August 1960 near Delhi
wherein about 50 persons in Delhi were injured; and (c) an earthquake near
Moradabad on 15 August 1966 that killed 14 persons in Delhi. Iyengar (2000)
also mentions about damage to one of the minarets of Delhi's Jama Masjid
during the M4.0 earthquakes on 28 July 1994. Most recently, the 1999 Chamoli
earthquake (M6.5) took place about 280 km from Delhi. Such a moderate
earthquake does not normally cause damage at such large distance. And yet,
several buildings in Delhi sustained non-structural damage possibility due to
peculiar geological and geotechnical features if this area. Only recently in the
Month of march to May 2004 minor tremors ranging from 1.6 to 3 on Richter
scale have rocked the capital, reminding once again Delhi’s susceptibility to
earthquakes.

TABLE OF EARTHQUAKE DATA

FUTURE ANALYSIS OF EARTHQUAKE DISASTER:
Recent plate movements show a classical stress formation and a major
possible earthquake within three months in Delhi. Ranging from 1.6 to 3 on
Richter scale, a series of minor tremors have rocked the capital, reminding
once again Delhi’s susceptibility to earthquakes. Six minor earthquakes in ten
days sometimes is the precursor to a large one. The current local seismic
behaviour is very similar to the one in Gujarat a few years back. The net effect
can be way more devastating than even a nuclear bomb in Delhi. Normally
before the major shock comes, there is a dull period of no activity for a few
days or even weeks. The major shake normally comes in suddenly and
normally is of six or higher in the Richter scale.

A great disaster may occur if three conditions are met:

(a) An earthquake of sufficiently large magnitude,

(b) Occurrence of the earthquake close enough to a population centre, and

(c) The population centre having buildings which are not earthquake resistant.
The question we must address is: is there a possibility of these conditions
being met for Delhi at some time in the future? In view of the huge population
and the economic-cum-political significance of Delhi, occurrence of such
conditions can cause not just a great disaster; but a mega disaster.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Disaster management is the process by which we “prepare for, respond to and
learn from the effects of big failures”. It is how we cope with the human,
material, economic, or environmental impacts of a given disaster. Disasters can
have human causes, despite the fact that nature frequently causes them.

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Disaster Risk Reduction can take place in the following ways: Preparedness:

●This protective process embraces measures which enable governments,

communities and individuals to respond rapidly to disaster situations to cope
with them effectively.

● Preparedness includes the formulation of viable emergency plans, the

development of warning systems, the maintenance of inventories and the
training of personnel.

●It may also embrace search and rescue measures as well as evacuation plans
for areas that may be at risk from a recurring disaster.

●Preparedness therefore encompasses those measures taken before a disaster

event which are aimed at minimizing loss of life, disruption of critical services,
and damage when the disaster occurs.

MITIGATION:
● Mitigation embraces measures taken to reduce both the effect of the hazard
and the vulnerable conditions to it in order to reduce the scale of a future
disaster.

● Therefore mitigation activities can be focused on the hazard itself or the

elements exposed to the threat. Examples of mitigation measures which are
hazard specific include water management in drought prone areas, relocating
people away from the hazard prone areas and by strengthening structures to
reduce damage when a hazard occurs.

● In addition to these physical measures, mitigation should also aim at

reducing the economic and social vulnerabilities of potential disasters.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT, 2005

The Lok Sabha enacted the Disaster Management Act on November 28, 2005,
and the Rajya Sabha did it on December 12, 2005. On January 9, 2006, the
Indian President gave his approval. The Act mandates the creation of the
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), whose chairman shall be
the Prime Minister of India. At any given moment, the NDMA can only have
nine members total, including the vice-chairperson. The NDMA members are
appointed for a five-year term. On 27 September 2005, the NDMA was
formally established in accordance with Section 3(1) of the Disaster
Management Act after being first established on 30 May 2005 by executive
order.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime

Minister of India, is the apex body for Disaster Management in India. India
envisions the development of an ethos of Prevention, Mitigation and
Preparedness. The Indian government strives to promote a national resolve to
mitigate the damage and destruction caused by natural and man-made
disasters, through sustained and collective efforts of all Government agencies,
Non-Governmental Organizations and People’s participation. This is planned to
be accomplished by adopting a Technology-Driven, Pro-Active, Multi-Hazard
and Multi-Sectoral strategy for building a Safer, Disaster Resilient and Dynamic
India. The NDMA is in charge of “setting down the rules, plans, and procedures
for disaster management” as well as making sure that disaster responses are
swift and efficient. It is tasked with establishing “guidelines to be followed by
the State Authorities in drawing up the national Plans” in accordance with
Section 6 of the Act. The Disaster Management Act of 2005 acknowledges
Disaster Management as a crucial process of planning, organizing,
coordinating, and implementing measures which is necessary for-

● Prevention of the threat of any disaster

● Reduction of risk of any disaster or its consequences

● Readiness to deal with any disaster

● Promptness in dealing with a disaster

● Assessing the severity of the effects of any disaster

● Rescue and relief

● Rehabilitation and Reconstruction...

Disaster Risk Management includes the sum total of all activities, programs and
measures which can be taken up before, during and after a disaster with the
purpose to avoid a disaster, reduce its impact or recover from its losses. The
three key stages of activities that are taken up within disaster risk
management are:

1. Pre-disaster

2. Disaster occurrence

3. Post disaster

RISK REDUCTION MEASURES FOR EARTHQUAKES

Possible risk reduction measures for EARTHQUAKES

COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS:
Community preparedness is vital for mitigating earthquake impact. The most
effective way to save you even in slight shaking is DROP, COVER and HOLD.

PLANNING:
The Bureau of Indian Standards has published building codes and guidelines for
safe construction of buildings against earthquakes. Before the buildings are
constructed the building plans have to be checked by the Municipality
according to the bylaws. Many existing buildings such as hospitals, schools, fire
stations may not be built with earthquake safety measures. Their earthquake
safety needs to be upgraded but retrofitting techniques.

PUBLIC EDUCATION:
Public education is educating the public on causes and characteristics of an
earthquake and preparedness measures. It can be created through
sensitization and training program for community, architects, engineers,
builders, masons, teachers, government functionaries’ teachers and students.

ENGINEERED STRUCTURES:
Buildings need to be designed and constructed as per the building laws to
withstand ground shaking. Architectural and engineering inputs need to be put
together to improve building design and construction practices. The soil type
needs to be analysed before construction. Building structures on soft soil
should be avoided. Buildings on soft soil are more likely to get damaged even if
the magnitude of the earthquake is not strong. Similar problems persist in the
buildings constructed on the river banks which have alluvial soil.

CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, earthquakes are powerful natural phenomena that can cause
widespread destruction, loss of life, and economic impacts. Understanding the
various aspects of earthquakes is crucial for implementing effective measures
to mitigate their impact and ensure public safety. It is important to stay
informed about earthquake risks and to follow guidelines and
recommendations provided by local authorities and experts. By working
together, we can enhance resilience, protect lives, and minimize the
devastating consequences of earthquakes on our societies.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOK
INTERNET
TEACHERS
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/
https://www.usgs.gov/natural-
https://www.iris.edu/
https://www.globalquakemodel.org/
http://www.isc.ac.uk/
https://www.eeri.org/
https://www.undrr.org/