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
chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7 chapter 8
Floods Drought Landslides Industrial and
Chemical Disasters

1
29 31 33 35
chapter 9 chapter 10 chapter 11 chapter 12
Biological Disasters Lightning Desert Locust Slow Onset
Disasters

37 39 42 50
chapter 13 chapter 14 chapter 15 chapter 16
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
Hazard and Disaster
• “Strictly speaking, there is no such
thing as a natural disaster, but there
are natural hazards, such as cyclones
and earthquakes. The difference
between a hazard and a disaster is
an important one. A disaster takes
place when a community is affected
by a hazard (usually defined as an
event and even psychological factors
Hazard
A hazard is a dangerous physical condition of a hazard. Natural hazards that cause
or event.
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
Classification of
Disaster
• Disasterscan be natural disasters or
human-made disasters.
Natural Disaster
• Natural disasters are large-scale
geological or meteorological events
that have the potential to cause loss of
life or property.
• Earthquake, cyclone, hailstorm, cloud-
burst, landslide, soil erosion, snow
avalanche, flood etc. are the examples
of natural disasters.
4
that shape people’s that overwhelms
that community’s capacity to cope). In
other words, the impact of the disaster
is determined by the extent of a
community’s vulnerability to the hazard.
This vulnerability is not natural. It is the
human dimension of disasters, the result
of the whole range of economic, social,
cultural, institutional, political lives and
create the environment that they live
in.” - Source: Twigg, J. 2001. (Extracted
from Living with Risk, A global review
of disaster reduction initiatives 2004
version)
Disaster
It is a calamity or tragedy or a consequence
great loss to human life and economy are
called disasters.
A large number of people are effected
Human-Made Disaster
• Human Made disasters are disasters
that are caused as a direct result of
human action.
• Fire, epidemics, road, air, rail accidents
and leakages of chemicals/ nuclear
installations etc. fall under the category
of human-made disasters.
The High Power Committee on Disaster
Management, constituted in 1999, has
identified 3 various disasters categorized
into five major sub-groups.
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

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

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)

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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

Programme Implementation have
taken initiatives for collection of data in
respect of different disasters.
• A Technical Committee was constituted
by the Central Statistics Office with a
view to prepare a framework for disaster
statistics for developing a database on
disaster and related aspects.
• Five formats have been developed for
capturing the information about
» (i) Statistics on disaster at district level,
» (iii) District wise compilation of statistics
on disaster,
» (iv) District Wise compilation of
statistics on relief, rehabilitation and
reconstruction and
» (v) Aggregation of damage and relief
data at state level.
• The State Government and District
level institutions would be required to
furnish this information for preparing
the database at centralized 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
follows:
» Zone V:
− Covers the areas liable to seismic
intensity IX and above on MSK
(1964) Intensity scale.
− This is the most severe seismic zone
and is referred here as Very High
Damage Risk Zone.
» Zone IV:
− Gives the area liable to MSK VIII.
This zone is second in severity to
zone V.
− This is referred to as High Damage
Risk Zone.
• According to latest seismic zoning
map brought out by the Bureau of
Indian Standard (BIS), over 65 percent
of the country is prone to earthquake
of intensity Modified Mercalli Intensity
Scale (MSK) VII or more.
• Zone V is the most active which
comprises the whole of Northeast
India, the northern portion of Bihar,
Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K,
Gujarat and Andaman & Nicobar
Islands. The entire Himalayan Region
is considered to be vulnerable to high
intensity earthquakes of a magnitude
exceeding 8.0 on the Richter Scale.
• Most of the areas that can be considered
safe are from the stable landmass
covered under the Deccan plateau.

» 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
Prevention and
Mitigation
• Pace of Urbanisation in India has been
increasing. Many of the cities and
townships including the national capital
of New Delhi, are located in zones of
high seismic risk.
• Typically, the majority of the
constructions in these cities are not
earthquake resistant. Regulatory
mechanisms are weak, thus any
earthquake striking in one of these
cities would turn into a major disaster.
• 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
strengthening the structural and
nonstructural earthquake mitigation
efforts and reducing the vulnerability
in the high risk districts prone to
earthquakes.
• Necessary risk mitigation measures
are proposed to be put in place in the
highly seismic zones.
• The proposed components of the
project include techno-legal regime,
institutional strengthening, capacity
building and public awareness etc.
12
National Building Code (NBC)
• The National Building Code of India
(NBC), a comprehensive building code,
is a national instrument providing
guidelines for regulating the building
construction activities across the
country.
• The NBC was first published in 1970
at the instance of the Planning
Commission. The revised NBC has now
been brought out as National Building
Code of India 2005 (NBC 2005).
• The salient features of the revised NBC
include meeting the challenges posed
by natural calamities and reflecting
the state-of-the-art and contemporary
applicable international practices.
retrofitting of life-line structures for
generating awareness among the
people as well as various government
agencies about the need and techniques
of retrofitting.
• The experience on these retrofitted
buildings is aimed to help people
at large and the policy makers in
particular in working towards reducing
the vulnerability in case of future
earthquakes.
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 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
the Pacific ring of fire, particularly along
the coast of Alaska,Japan, Philippines,
and other islands of Southeast Asia,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri
Lanka, and India etc.
• Unlike other natural hazards, the
mitigation of hazards created by
tsunami is difficult, mainly because
of the fact that losses are on a much
larger scale.
Tsunami Prevention
and Mitigation
• One of the natural measures which
could be adopted for mitigating the
impact of tsunami is using shoreline
tree cover.
15
• Tree plantation is a cost-effective long-
lasting means of tsunami mitigation in
comparison to the artificial barriers.
• Some locations of Indian Ocean where
Tsunami struck in 2004 remained almost
intact because the existing coconut
palms and mangroves trees absorbed
the tsunami’s energy.
• The Government of India decided to
put in place an Early Warning System
for mitigation of such oceanogenic
disasters. Indian National Center for
Ocean Information Services (INCOIS),
Hyderabad was given the responsibility
to coordinate the entire project and
make it operational. The tsunami
warning system has been in use since
the mid-2000s.
 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

Distribution of
Tropical Cyclone in
India
• India has a coastline of about 7516 kms,
it is exposed to nearly 10 percent of the
world’s tropical cyclones.
• Owing to its peninsular shape
surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the
east and the Arabian Sea in the west, the
tropical cyclones in India also originate
in these two important locations.
• About 71 percent of this area is in
ten states (Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa
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,
a risk of serious loss or damage arises
from severe winds, heavy rainfall, storm
surges and river floods.
• This results in inundation of human
settlements, agricultural fields,
damaging crops and destruction of
structures created by human beings.
The following measures have been
initiated for prevention and mitigation of
such disasters:
National Cyclone Risk
Mitigation Project (NCRMP)
Initiative
• The scheme aims to upgrade cyclone
forecasting, tracking and warning
systems, build capacity in multi-hazard
risk management and to construct major
infrastructures including multi-purpose
cyclone shelters and embankments.
17
• The National Disaster Management
Authority (NDMA) has been designated
as the implementing agency.
• The scheme is regularly monitored by
NDMA and MHA.
Integrated Coastal Zone
Management Project (ICZMP)
• The Government of India under the
aegis of Ministry of Environment and
Forest (MoEF) has launched the ICZMP.
• The objective of the project is
implementation of a comprehensive
coastal management approach in the
country and piloting the integrated
coastal zone management approach
in states of Gujarat, Orissa and West
Bengal.
early warning system (EWS) involving
observations, predictions, warnings and
user friendly advisories.
• Commission the ‘National Disaster
Communication Infrastructure’ (NDCI)
to provide dedicated and failsafe
communications to the National, State
and District Disaster Management
Authorities and officials concerned.
• Commission “Aircraft Probing of
Cyclone (APC) facility” to fill the
critical observational data gaps and
significantly reduce the margin of error
in predicting cyclone track, intensity
and landfall.
• Implementing the National Cyclone
Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) in all
the 13 coastal states and UTs.
• Taking up structural mitigation
measures like improving structural
lifeline infrastructure; construction
 of multi-purpose cyclone shelters
and cattle mounds, ensuring cyclone
resistant design standards in rural and
urban housing.
• Expand the warning dissemination
outreach by introducing ‘Last Mile
Connectivity’, using VHF technology.
• Management of coastal zones to
include mapping and delineation of
coastal wetlands, patches of mangroves
18
and shelterbelts and identification of
potential zones for expanding bio-
shield spread based on remote sensing.
• Establishing a comprehensive ‘Cyclone
Disaster Management Information
System’ (CDMIS) covering all
• Set up a ‘National Cyclone Disaster
Management Institute’ in one of the
coastal states to address.
 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:
» Heavy rainfall for considerably longer
period of time
» Inadequate capacity of rivers to carry
the high flood discharge,
» Landslides blocking streams;
» Typhoons and cyclones also cause floods.
» Flash floods occur due to high rate
of water flow as also due to poor
permeability of the soil.
Distribution of
Floods in India
• Twenty-three of the 35 states and union
territories in the country are subject
to floods and RashtriyaBarhAyog
(National Flood Commission) identified
40 million hectares of land as flood-
prone in India.
• Assam, West Bengal and Bihar are
among the high flood-prone states of
India.
• Apart from these, most of the rivers
in the northern states like Punjab and
Uttar Pradesh, are also vulnerable to
occasional floods.
• It has been noticed that states like
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and
Punjab are also getting inundated in
recent decades due to flash floods.
This is partly because of the pattern
of the monsoon and partly because of
blocking of most of the streams and
river channels by human activities.
• Sometimes, Tamil Nadu experiences
flooding during November January due
to the retreating monsoon.
Consequence and
Control of Floods
• Frequent inundation of agricultural
land and human settlement has serious
20
consequences on the national economy
and society.
• Floods do not only destroy valuable
crops every year but these also damage
physical infrastructure such as roads,
rails, bridges and human settlements.
• Millions of people are rendered
homeless and are also washed down
along with their cattle in the floods.
Spread of diseases like cholera, gastro-
enteritis, hepatitis and other water-
borne diseases spread in the flood-
affected areas.
• However, floods also make a few
positive contributions :
» Every year, floods deposit fertile silt
over agricultural fields which is good
for the crops.
» Majuli (Assam), the largest riverine
island in the world, is the best example
of good paddy crops after the annual
floods in Brahmaputra.
• Control:
» There should be a master plan for flood
control and management for each
flood prone basin.
» Adequate flood-cushion should be
provided in water storage projects,
wherever feasible, to facilitate better
flood management.
» In highly flood prone areas, flood
control should be given overriding
consideration in reservoir regulation
policy even at the cost of sacrificing
some irrigation or power benefits.
» While physical flood protection works
like embankments and dykes will
continue to be necessary, increased
emphasis should be laid on non-
structural measures such as flood
forecasting and warning, flood plain
zoning and flood proofing for the
minimisation of losses and to reduce
the recurring expenditure on flood relief.
» There should be strict regulation of
 settlements and economic activity in
the flood plain zones along with flood
proofing, to minimise the loss of life and
property on account of floods.
» The flood forecasting activities
should be modernised, value added
and extended to other uncovered
areas. Inflow forecasting to reservoirs
should be instituted for their effective
regulation
Flood Prevention
and Mitigation
National Flood Risk Mitigation •
Project (NFRMP)
• It aims at ensuring that arrangements
21
are in place to mobilise the resources
and capability for relief, rehabilitation,
reconstruction and recovery from
disasters besides creating awareness
among vulnerable communities.
• NDMA has been entrusted to prepare a
Detailed Project Report (DPR) on Flood
Risk Mitigation Project.
Flood Management Programme
• The FMP scheme was launched by the
Ministry of Water Resources under the
central plan at a total cost of 8000 crores
during the 11th Plan period (2007-12).
The scheme provides financial
assistance to the state governments for
undertaking flood management works
in critical areas.
 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
Meteorological Drought
• It is a situation when there is a prolonged
period of inadequate rainfall marked
with mal-distribution of the same over
time and space.
Agricultural Drought
• It is also known as soil moisture drought,
characterised by low soil moisture
that is necessary to support the crops,
thereby resulting in crop failures.
• Moreover, if an area has more than
30 % of its gross cropped area under
irrigation, the area is excluded from the
drought-prone category.
Hydrological Drought
• It results when the availability of water
in different storages and reservoirs like
aquifers, lakes, reservoirs, etc. falls below
what the precipitation can replenish.
Ecological Drought
• When the productivity of a natural
ecosystem fails due to shortage of water
and as a consequence of ecological
distress, damages are induced in the
ecosystem
Drought Prone Areas
in India
• Indian agriculture has been heavily
dependent on the monsoon rainfall
because of the large-scale variations
and unpredictability in the behaviour
of the monsoon in India.
• Thus, droughts are widespread and
common phenomena in most parts of
the country.
• In India around 68 percent of the
country is prone to drought to varying
degrees.
• Of the entire area 35 percent receives
23
rain falls between 750 mm and 1125 mm
which is considered drought prone.
• While 33 percent which receives
rainfalls between less than 750 mm is
considered to be chronically drought
prone.
Consequence and
Control of Drought
• Drought can be devastating as water
supplies dry up, crops fail to grow,
animals die, and malnutrition and ill
health become widespread.
• The environmental effects of drought,
including stalinization of soil and
groundwater decline, increased
pollution of freshwater ecosystems and
regional extinction of animal species.
• Control :
» Identification of groundwater potential
in the form of aquifers, transfer of river
water from the surplus to the deficit
areas, and particularly planning for
inter-linking of rivers and construction
of reservoirs and dams, etc.
» Remote sensing and satellite imageries
can be useful in identifying the possible
river-basins that can be interlinked
and in identifying the ground water
potential.
» Dissemination of knowledge about
drought-resistant crops and proper
training to practise the same can be
some of the long-term measures that
will be helpful in drought-mitigation.
» Rainwater harvesting can also be an
effective method in minimising the
effects of drought.
2nd ARCRecommendations
On Drought Management:
• Deployment of remote sensing as the
primary tool for diagnosing droughts,
 monitoring their course and forecasting
prognosis is a goal that needs to be
pursued speedily and systematically.
This would require dovetailing remote
sensing into the routine framework of
drought management.
• In extremely drought prone area, a
strategy for making people pursue
livelihoods compatible with their
ecosystems needs to be evolved. Some
concrete steps in this direction could
be:
» A multi-disciplinary team needs to
be immediately constituted by the
Ministry of Environment and Forests
to specifically identify villages where
soil and climatic conditions make
‘conventional agriculture’ unsustainable.
» Alternate means of livelihood have
to be evolved in consultation with the
communities, in such areas.
• A National Institute of Drought
Management may be set up for
networking on multi-disciplinary, cross-
sectoral research on various aspects of
drought, acting as a resource centre
24
on droughts and carrying out impact
evaluation studies of the drought
management efforts.
Drought Prevention
and Mitigation
• The Drought Prone Areas Programme
(DPAP) and Desert Development
Programme (DDP) are being
implemented by the Government
of India since 1973-74 and 1977-78
respectively.
• These programmes aim at drought
proofing and minimising desertification
of fragile areas in the arid, semi-arid
and dry-sub humid regions often
affected by severe drought conditions
and desertification.
• National Rainfed Area Authority in the
Ministry of Agriculture has been set up to
address the issue of drought mitigation
on a long term basis. It comprises
experts who provide knowledge inputs
regarding systematic upgradation and
management of the country’s dry land
and rainfed agriculture.
 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
and Control of
Landslides
• 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.
• Diversion of river courses due to
landslides can also lead to flood and
loss of life and property.
• Mitigation :
» Restriction on the construction and
other developmental activities such as
roads and dams, limiting agriculture to
valleys and areas with moderate slopes,
» Control on the development of large
settlements in the high vulnerability
zones, should be enforced.
» 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
Jhumming (Slash and Burn/Shifting
Cultivation) is still prevalent.
» Other measures
− Structural measures: a) Planting
(Avalanche Prevention Forest) b)
Stepped Terraces c) Avalanche
Control Piles d) Avalanche Control
Fence e) Suspended Fences f)
Snow Cornice Control Structures
g) Protection structures such as
stopping, deflecting and retarding
structures.
− Non-structural measures - removing
snow deposits on slopes by
blasting, predicting avalanches and
evacuating people from vulnerable
areas
Landslide
Prevention and
Mitigation
• ‘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.
 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

Industrial 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 Disaster
• Chemical disasters are occurrence of
emission, fire or explosion involving one
or more hazardous chemicals in the
course of industrial activity (handling),
storage or transportation or due to
natural events leading to serious effects
inside or outside the installation likely to
cause loss of life and property including
adverse effects on the environment.
28
• Chemical
accident or emergency
can result in extensive damage to the
environment with considerable human
and economic costs.
Prevention and
Mitigation
• The Environment (Protection) Act was
enacted in 1986.Under the Act, two
rules have been notified for ensuring
chemical safety, namely,
» The Manufacture, Storage and Import
of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989
(MSIHC) amended in 1994 and 2000;
» The Chemical Accidents (Emergency,
Planning, Preparedness, and
Response) Rules, 1996 (EPPR) under the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
 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)
outbreaks are examples of biological
disasters.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
is the nodal ministry for handling
epidemics, decision-making, advisory
body and emergency Medical Relief
provider.
• According to the Constitution, health is a
state subject. The primary responsibility
of dealing with biological disasters rests
with the state government.
• The National Institute of Communicable
Diseases (NICD) is the nodal agency for
investigating outbreaks.
• The NICD/Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) provides teaching/
training, research and laboratory
support.
Biological Hazards
• Also known as Biohazards, refer to
biological substances or organic
matters produced by parasites, viruses,
bacteria, fungi and protein that pose a
threat to the health of living organisms,
primarily that of humans.
• This can include medical waste or
samples of a microorganism, virus or
toxin (from a biological source) that can
affect human health.
Biological Warfare
reproduce or replicate within their host
victims.
• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the
nodal ministry for BW and partners with
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in
its management.
• MHA is responsible for assessing threat
perceptions, setting up of deterrent
mechanisms and providing intelligence
inputs.
Prevention of
Biological Disasters
• The important means for prevention
of biological disasters include the
following:
» Vulnerability Analysis and Risk
Assessment.
» Environmental Management
− Safe Water supply and proper
maintenance of sewage pipeline will
go a long way in the prevention of
biological disasters and epidemics
of waterborne origin such as cholera,
hepatitis, diarrhoea and dysentery.
− Personal hygiene necessary
awareness will be created in the
community about the importance
of personal hygiene.
− Vector
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 Desert Locust changes
both colour and behaviour
as it becomes more
gregarious
GREGARIO
SWARM
Increasing
multiplication and
concentration
SO
Adults mature and
are ready to lay
eggs after at least
3 weeks
Locust Warning
Organisation (LWO)
• In India, the scheme Locust Control
and Research (LC&R) is responsible for
control of Desert Locust.
• It is being implemented through
Organisation known as Locust Warning
Organisation (LWO) established in 1939.
• Locust Warning organization (LWO) is
responsible to monitor and control the
locust situation in Scheduled Desert
Area (SDA) mainly in the States of
Rajasthan and Gujarat while partly in
the States of Punjab and Haryana.
• It keeps itself abreast with the
prevailing locust situation at National
and International level through monthly
Desert Locust Bulletins of FAO.
Control Measures
• A robust approach by the Union
government agencies and various
departments of states is required for
effective desert locust control. Locusts
are most vulnerable when they are in
the hopper stage.
• To minimise environmental damages,
34
The female locust lays
her eggs directly into
the soil that hatch
after two weeks
US
BAND
L I TA RY
The hopper moults
5-6 times and
becomes an adult in
about 4-6 weeks
pesticides, which are active for a short
time, should be used. It gets difficult to
control locusts when the adult locusts
emerge from the fifth-instar hoppers
and mature; they form swarms and fly
away.
• At the same time, farmers should be
advised to not take their livestock for
grazing in area being sprayed on with
pesticide for at least one.
• Drones can also be used to spray
pesticides on tall trees and inaccessible
places for effective control of locusts.
• Directives from the United Nations Food
and Agriculture Organisation, which is
monitoring the situation on a global
scale, should be followed diligently for
effective locust control.
• India has also proposed a trilateral
initiative with Pakistan and Iran for
effective locust control. The Indian
Meteorological Department should
provide the wind pattern data for
proper tracking of the movement of
locust swarms.
• Safeguarding livelihoods and
promoting recovery through cash
interventions, supplementary livestock
feed, and livelihood recovery and
farming packages.
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
that does not emerge from a single,
distinct event but one that emerges
gradually over time, often based on a
confluence of different events.
• Climate change (global warming),
desertification, soil degradation, and
droughts, would fall under the category
of slow onset disasters.
36
• Slow onset disasters are also termed as
‘Creeping Emergencies’.
• Unlike the rapid onset disasters, their
impact is not felt immediately; however,
societies lose their ability to derive
sustenance from their surroundings,
over a period of time.
 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.

Issues in Urban
Flooding:
• Among the important cities of India, the
average annual rainfall varies from 2932
mm in Goa and 2401 mm in Mumbai on
the higher side, to 669 mm in Jaipur
on the lower side. The rainfall pattern
and temporal duration is almost similar
in all these cities, which receive the
maximum rainfall from the south-west
monsoons.
• Storm water drainage systems in the
past were designed for rainfall intensity
of 12 - 20 mm. These capacities have
been getting very easily overwhelmed
whenever rainfall of higher intensity
has been experienced.
• Ideally, the natural drains should have
been widened (similar to road widening
for increased traffic) to accommodate
the higher flows of storm water. But
on the contrary, there have been large
scale encroachments on the natural
drains and the river flood plains.
• Improper disposal of solid waste,
including domestic, commercial and
industrial waste and dumping of
construction debris into the drains also
contributes significantly to reducing
their capacities.
NDMA Guidelines on
Urban Flooding
• CWC should maximize the real-time
hydro-meteorological network to cover
all the urban centres in support of the
emerging priorities in dealing with
urban flooding.
38
• It is essential to design and strengthen
local hydro-meteorological data
networks to cater for the needs of urban
flooding holistically.
• State-of-the-art automatic water level
recorders must be installed throughout
the drainage network of the watershed,
which may sometimes extend beyond
the administrative boundary of the
ULB.
• Efforts shall be made to restore water
bodies by de-silting and taking other
measures. Efforts shall also be made to
revive water bodies that have been put
to other uses.
• Local scale emergency medical
response systems will be established
to deal with medical preparedness,
emergency treatment, mortuary
facilities and disposal of bodies and
carcasses, public health issues including
trauma and control of epidemics.
• Encourage local residents to constitute
Community Level First Responder
Support consisting of ex-servicemen,
retired police personnel, paramilitary
forces and RWAs.
• Suitable hedging mechanism, like
insurance of life and property, need
to be evolved to reduce urban flood
vulnerability.
• Public awareness will be created about
the need to keep safety kits containing
medicines, torch, identity cards, ration
card, important documents and non-
perishable eatables ready before
commencement of monsoon so that,
they can carry the same with them, in
case they have to be evacuated.
• Media companies shall be motivated to
launch/expand awareness generation
programmes as a part of their CSR
 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
1897 Epidemic
Diseases Act
• It empowers state governments/UTs to
take special measures and formulate
regulations for containing the outbreak.
• It also empowers state to prescribe such
temporary regulations to be observed
by the public or by any person or class
of persons as it shall deem necessary to
prevent the outbreak of such disease or
the spread thereof.
• The state may determine in what
manner and by whom any expenses
incurred (including compensation if
any) shall be defrayed.
• It also provides penalties for disobeying
any regulation or order made under the
Act. These are according to section 188
of the Indian Penal Code (Disobedience
to order duly promulgated by public
servant).
• It also gives legal protection to the
implementing officers acting under the
Act.
• The Act specifies that the central
government may regulate: (i) the
inspection of any ship or vessel leaving
or arriving at any port, and (ii) the
detention of any person intending to
travel from the port, during an outbreak.
2nd ARC
recommendations
on epidemics
• To more effectively prevent outbreak/
spread of epidemics, it is imperative
that a comprehensive revised ‘model’
legislation on public health is finalized
at an early date and that the Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare
systematically pursues its enactment
40
by the states with adaptations
necessitated by local requirements.
• Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare has to ensure that requisite
plans envisaged under the Disaster
Management Act, 2005, are drawn up in
respect of epidemics also and that the
role of the district administration finds
explicit mention in the Public Health
Emergency Bill. The structure created
by the Disaster Management Act,
2005, should be utilized for managing
epidemics also.
• While surveillance and management
of epidemics are the responsibility of
public health professionals, it is clear
that a particularly severe outbreak
could overwhelm the capacities of
the ‘line organizations’. The Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare and
the State Governments must ensure
that ‘standard operating procedures’
are devised to assign roles and
responsibilities of agencies and
personnel outside the line organisations
wherever a situation so warrants.
• State level handbooks and manuals
concerning disaster management
should have a chapter on “epidemics-
related emergencies”. A model chapter
may be circulated by the Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare for
guidance of states. It may be useful
to document the past handling of
epidemics like the Plague (Surat) and
Japanese encephalitis (Eastern UP) to
facilitate standardization of response
mechanisms.
NDMA guidelines
on Management of
Biological Disasters
• Vulnerability analysis and risk
assessment needs to be carried out at
the macro and micro levels for existing
diseases with epidemic potential,
 emerging and re-emerging diseases,
and zoonotic diseases with potential to
cause human diseases, etc.
• Important buildings and those housing
vital installations need to be protected
against biological agents wherever
deemed necessary.
• When exposure is suspected, the
affected persons shall be quarantined
and put under observation for any
atypical or typical signs and symptoms
appearing during the period of
observation.
• Health professionals who are
associated with such investigations will
have adequate protection and adopt
recognised universal precautions.
• Health care workers shall be equipped
with gloves, impermeable gowns,
N-95 masks or powered air-purifying
respirators. They must clean their
hands prior to donning PPE for patient
contact.
• With due consideration to the social,
ethnic and religious issues involved,
utmost care will be exercised in the
disposal of dead bodies.
• Necessary awareness will be created in
the community about the importance
of personal hygiene, and measures
to achieve this, including provision of
washing, cleaning and bathing facilities,
and avoiding overcrowding in sleeping
quarters, etc.
41
• All manufacturers of antibiotics,
chemotherapeutics and anti-virals
shall be listed and their installed
capacity ascertained. The centre/state
governments will ensure availability of
all such drugs and anti-toxins that are
needed to combat a biological disaster.
• Attention is to be given to the
development of infrastructural facilities
in terms of trained manpower, mobility,
connectivity, knowledge enhancement
and scientific up-gradation for all
stakeholders concerned with the
management of biological disasters.
• Biological disaster related education
shall be given in various vernacular
languages. Simple exercise models
for creating awareness will also be
formulated at the district level.
• Toll-free numbers and a reward system
for providing vital information about
any oncoming biological disaster by
an early responder or the public will be
helpful.
• Those families subjected to bereavement
of their near and dear ones would
also reflect in higher psycho-social
morbidity. MoH&FW through its mental
health institutions and NGOs would
provide adequate psycho-social care.
• The management of pandemics also
requires a transparent and collaborative
approach wherein the affected
countries will make a combined effort
to mitigate the impact.
 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
Institutions
National Policy on Disaster
Management (NPDM)
• The National Policy on Disaster
Management (NPDM) was approved by
the central government on October 22,
2009.
• The policy envisages a safe and disaster
resilient India by developing a holistic,
proactive, multi-disaster oriented and
technology driven strategy through
a culture of prevention, mitigation,
preparedness and response.
• The policy covers all aspects of disaster
management including institutional
and legal arrangements, financial
arrangements.
• This policy will be a paradigm shift, from
the erstwhile relief-centric response
to a proactive prevention, mitigation
and preparedness-driven approach for
conserving developmental gains and
to minimise loss of life, livelihood and
property.
43
Disaster Management Act 2005
• On 23 December 2005, the Government
of India enacted the Disaster
Management Act, which envisaged
the creation of National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA),
headed by the Prime Minister, and
State Disaster Management Authorities
(SDMAs) headed by respective Chief
Ministers, to spearhead and implement
a holistic and integrated approach to
Disaster Management in India.
• The Act further provides for the
constitution of different Executive
Committee at national and state levels.
• Under its aegis, the National Institute
of Disaster Management (NIDM) for
capacity building and National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF) for response
purpose have been set up.
• It also mandates the concerned
Ministries and Departments to draw up
their own plans in accordance
• with the National Plan.
• The Act further contains the provisions
for financial mechanisms such as
creation of funds for response, National
Disaster Mitigation Fund and similar
funds at the state and district levels for
the purpose of disaster management.
 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

Authority (NDMA)
• NDMA, as the apex body, is mandated
to lay down the policies, plans and
guidelines for Disaster Management to
ensure timely and effective response to
disasters.
• Towards this, it has the following
responsibilities:-
» Lay down policies on disaster
management ;
» Approve the National Plan;
» Approve plans prepared by the Ministries
or Departments of the Government of
India in accordance with the National
Plan;
» Lay down guidelines to be followed by
the State Authorities in drawing up the
State Plan;
» Lay down guidelines to be followed by
the different Ministries or Departments
for the Purpose of integrating the
measures for prevention of disaster
development plans and projects;
» Coordinate the enforcement and
implementation of the policy and plans
for disaster management;
» Recommend provision of funds for the
purpose of mitigation;
» Provide such support to other countries
affected by major disasters as may be
determined by the Central Government;
» Take such other measures for the
prevention of disaster, or the mitigation,
or preparedness and capacity building
for dealing with threatening disaster
situations or disasters as it may consider
necessary;
» Lay down broad policies and guidelines
for the functioning of the National
Institute of Disaster Management.
• The NDMA is mandated to deal with
all types of disasters; natural or man-
made.
• Whereas, such other emergencies
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
preparedness activities in respect of
CBRN emergencies
National Executive
Committee (NEC)
• A National Executive Committee is
constituted under Section 8 of DM Act,
2005 to assist the National Authority
in the performance of its functions.
NEC consists of Home Secretary as its
Chairperson.
• NEC has been given the responsibility to
body for disaster management, to
prepare a National Plan, monitor the
implementation of National Policy etc.
vide section 10 of the DM Act.
State level
Institutions
State Disaster Management
Authority (SDMA)
• The DM Act, 2005 provides for the
constitution of SDMAs and DDMAs in
all the states and UTs.

45
• As per the information received from
the states and UTs, except Gujarat
and Daman & Diu, all the rest have
constituted SDMAs under the DM Act,
2005.
• Gujarat has constituted its SDMA under
its Gujarat State Disaster Management
Act, 2003. Daman & Diu have also
established SDMAs prior to enactment
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
• The Act envisages establishment of
State Executive Committee under
Section 20 of the Act, to be headed by
Chief Secretary of the state Government
with four other Secretaries of such
departments as the state Government
may think fit.
• It has the responsibility for coordinating
and monitoring the implementation of
the National Policy, the National Plan
and the State Plan
District level
Institutions
District Disaster Management
Authority (DDMA)
• Section 25 of the DM Act provides for
constitution of DDMA for every district
of a state.
• The District Magistrate/ District
Collector/Deputy Commissioner heads
the Authority as Chairperson besides
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
for planning, coordination and
implementation of disaster
management and to take such
measures for disaster management as
provided in the guidelines.
• The District Authority also has the
power to examine the construction in
any area in the district to enforce the
safety standards and also to arrange
for relief measures and respond to the
disaster at the district level.
National Disaster Response
Fund
• National Calamity Contingency Fund
(NCCF) was renamed as National
Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) with the
enactment of the Disaster Management
Act in 2005.
• It is defined in Section 46 of the Disaster
Management Act, 2005 (DM Act).
• It is placed in the “Public Account” of
Government of India under “reserve
funds not bearing interest”.
• It is managed by the Central
Government for meeting the expenses
for emergency response, relief and
rehabilitation due to any threatening
disaster situation or disaster.
• It supplements the State Disaster
Response Fund (SDRF) in case of a
disaster of severe nature, provided
adequate funds are not available in the
SDRF.
• It is financed through the levy of a
cess on certain items, chargeable to
excise and customs duty, and approved
annually through the Finance Bill.
• Recently, The Central Government has
allowed contributions from any person
or institution in the National Disaster
Response Fund (NDRF) as per Section
46(1)(b) of the Disaster Management
(DM) Act, 2005.
• Department of Agriculture and
47
Cooperation under the Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmer Welfare
monitors relief activities for calamities
associated with drought, hailstorms,
pest attacks and cold wave/frost
while rest of the natural calamities are
monitored by the Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA).
• NDRF is audited by Comptroller and
Auditor General (CAG).
• The main task of NDRF is to provide
specialist response in case of disasters
which broadly covers:
» Assistance to civil authorities in
distribution of relief material
» First medical response to victims
» Capacity building
» To conduct mock exercises in
coordination with other stakeholders
for well-coordinated response during
disasters.
» To train State Disaster Response Force
(SDRF), community and NGO’S in
disaster management.
State Disaster Response Fund
• Constituted under Section 48 (1) (a) of
the Disaster Management Act, 2005, is
the primary fund available with State
Governments for responses to notified
disasters.
• The Central Government contributes
75% of SDRF allocation for general
category States/UTs and 90% for
special category States/UTs (NE
States, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir).
• The annual Central contribution is
released in two equal instalments as
per the recommendation of the Finance
Commission.
• SDRF shall be used only for meeting the
expenditure for providing immediate
relief to the victims.
• Local Disaster: A State Government
 may use up to 10 percent of the funds
available under the SDRF for providing
immediate relief to the victims of natural
disasters that they consider to be
‘disasters’ within the local context in the
State and which are not included in the
notified list of disasters of the Ministry
of Home Affairs subject to the condition
that the State Government has listed
the State specific natural disasters and
notified clear and transparent norms
and guidelines for such disasters with
the approval of the State Authority, i.e.,
the State Executive Authority (SEC).
PM CARES Fund - Prime
Minister’s Citizen Assistance •
and Relief in Emergency
Situations Fund
Objectives:
• To undertake and support relief or
assistance of any kind relating to a
public health emergency or any other
kind of emergency, calamity or distress,
either man-made or natural, including
the creation or upgradation of
healthcare or pharmaceutical facilities,
other necessary infrastructure, funding
relevant research or any other type of
support.
• To render financial assistance, provide
grants of payments of money or take
such other steps as may be deemed
necessary by the Board of Trustees to
the affected population.
• To undertake any other activity, which
is not inconsistent with the above
Objects.
Constitution of the Trust:
• Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman
of the PM CARES Fund and Minister of
Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and
Minister of Finance, Government of
India are ex-officio Trustees of the Fund.
• The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees
(Prime Minister) shall have the power to
48
nominate three trustees to the Board of
Trustees who shall be eminent persons
in the field of research, health, science,
social work, law, public administration
and philanthropy.
• Any person appointed a Trustee shall
act in a pro bono capacity.
Contribution to the Fund:
• The fund consists entirely of voluntary
contributions from individuals/
organizations and does not get any
budgetary support. The fund will be
utilised in meeting the objectives as
stated above.
Donations to PM CARES Fund would
qualify for 80G benefits for 100%
exemption under the Income Tax Act,
1961.
• Donations to PM CARES Fund will also
qualify to be counted as Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure
under the Companies Act, 2013
• PM CARES Fund has also got exemption
under the FCRA and a separate account
for receiving foreign donations has been
opened. This enables PM CARES Fund
to accept donations and contributions
from individuals and organizations
based in foreign countries.
Prime Minister’s National Relief
Fund (PMNRF)
Objectives:
• The Prime Minister’s National Relief
Fund (PMNRF) was established with
public contributions to assist displaced
persons from Pakistan.
• The resources of the PMNRF are now
utilized primarily to render immediate
relief to families of those killed in natural
calamities like floods, cyclones and
earthquakes, etc. and to the victims of
the major accidents and riots.
• Assistance from PMNRF is also
rendered, to partially defray the
expenses for medical treatment like
 heart surgeries, kidney transplantation,
cancer treatment and acid attack etc.
Constitution of the Trust:
• The fund is recognized as a Trust under
the Income Tax Act and the same is
managed by the Prime Minister or
multiple delegates for national causes.
Contribution to the Fund:
• The fund consists entirely of public
contributions. Contributions flowing out
of budgetary sources of Government or
from the balance sheets of the public
sector undertakings are not accepted.
• Conditional contributions, where
the donor specifically mentions that
the amount is meant for a particular
purpose, are not accepted in the Fund.
• The corpus of the fund is invested
in various forms with scheduled
commercial banks and other agencies.
• All contributions towards PMNRF are
exempt from Income Tax under section
80(G).
2ndARC Recommendations on
The Disaster Management Act, •
2005
• The Disaster Management Act, 2005
(Central Act) needs to be amended to
bring in the following features:
• Disaster/Crisis Management should
49
continue to be the primary responsibility
of the State Governments and the Union
Government should play a supportive
role.
• The Act should provide categorization
of disasters (say, local, district, state
or national level). This categorization
along with intensity of each type of
disaster will help in determining the
level of authority primarily responsible
for dealing with the disaster as well
as the scale of response and relief -
detailed guidelines may be stipulated
by the NDMA on this subject.
• The task of implementation of
mitigation/prevention and response
measures may be left to the State
Governments and the district and local
authorities with the line ministries/
departments of Government of India,
playing a supportive role.
• The law should cast a duty on every
public functionary, to promptly inform
the concerned authority about any
crisis, if he/she feels that such authority
does not have such information.
The law should make provisions for
stringent punishment for misutilization
of funds meant for crisis/disaster
management.
• The role of the local governments
should be brought to the forefront for
crisis/disaster management.
 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.

Hyogo Framework of
Action
• Representatives from 168 countries
participated in the global conference
on Disaster Risk Reduction in January
2005 in Kobe, Japan.
• The Hyogo Framework of Action
(HFA) 2005-2015 was adopted to work
globally towards sustainable reduction
of disaster losses in lives and in the
social, economic and environmental
assets of communities and countries.
• The framework set three strategic goals
given as under:-
» The more effective integration of
disaster risk reduction into sustainable
development policies, planning
and programming at all levels, with
a special emphasis on disaster
prevention, mitigation, preparedness
and vulnerability reduction.
» The development and strengthening
of institutions, mechanisms and
capacities at all levels in particular
at the community level that can
systematically contribute to building
resilience to hazards.
» The systematic incorporation of risk
reduction approaches into the design
and implementation of emergency
preparedness, response and recovery
programmes in the reconstruction of
the affected communities.
• Under the HFA the following priority
areas have been identified for the
countries to concentrate in their efforts
for making the countries disaster
resilent.
» Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a
national and a local priority with a strong
institutional basis for implementation,
» Identify, assess and monitor disaster
risks and enhance early warning,
51
» Use knowledge, innovation & education
to build a culture of safety & resilience
at all levels,
» Reduce the underlying risk factors,
» Strengthen disaster preparedness for
effective response at all levels.
• India is one of the participating
countries and works closely with the
UN-ISDR to implement the Priority
Areas of HFA for DRR.
Sendai Framework
for Disaster Risk
Reduction 2015-
2030
• The Sendai Framework for Disaster
Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai
Framework) was the first major
agreement of the post-2015
development agenda and provides
Member States with concrete actions
to protect development gains from the
risk of disaster.
• It was endorsed by the UN General
Assembly following the 2015 Third UN
World Conference on Disaster Risk
Reduction (WCDRR).
• It aims to achieve the substantial
reduction of disaster risk and losses
in lives, livelihoods and health and in
the economic, physical, social, cultural
and environmental assets of persons,
businesses, communities and countries
over the next 15 years.
• The Sendai Framework is the successor
instrument to the Hyogo Framework.
• The Sendai Framework outlines seven
global targets to guide and against
which to assess progress.
• The seven global targets are:
» Substantially reduce global disaster
mortality by 2030, aiming to lower the
 average per 100,000 global mortality
rate in the decade 2020–2030
compared to the period 2005–2015;
» Substantially reduce the number of
affected people globally by 2030,
aiming to lower the average global
figure per 100,000 in the decade 2020–
2030 compared to the period 2005–
2015;
» Reduce direct disaster economic loss
in relation to global gross domestic
product (GDP) by 2030;
» Substantially reduce disaster damage
to critical infrastructure and disruption
of basic services, among them health
and educational facilities, including
through developing their resilience by
2030
» Substantially increase the number
of countries with national and local
disaster risk reduction strategies by
2020;
» Substantially enhance international
cooperation to developing countries
through adequate and sustainable
support to complement their national
actions for implementation of the
present Framework by 2030
» Substantially increase the availability
of and access to multi-hazard early
warning systems and disaster risk
information and assessments to people
by 2030.
Some Targets of SDG’s in line
with the Sendai Framework:
• Goal 1: Target 1.5, which relates to
building the resilience of the poor, further
strengthens the position of disaster
risk reduction as a core development
strategy for ending extreme poverty.
• 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
order to promote resilient livelihoods,
food production and ecosystems.
• Goal 3: relates to strengthening early
warning and risk reduction of national
and global health risks presents an
opportunity to further actions to
promote resilient health etc.
United Nations
International
Strategy for Disaster
Reduction (UNISDR)
• In December 1999, General Assembly
Resolution 54/219 created the UNISDR,
as a successor of the secretariat of
the International Decade for Natural
Disaster Reduction, in 2001.
• It is mandated by UNISDR is to serve
as the focal point in the United Nations
System for the coordination of disaster
reduction and to ensure synergies
among the disaster reduction activities
of the United Nations Systems and
regional organizations and activities
in socio-economic and humanitarian
field.
• In order to build the resilience of
nations and communities to disasters
through the implementation of the
HFA, the UNISDR strives to catalyze,
facilitate and mobilise the commitment
and resources of national, regional and
international stakeholders of the ISDR
system.
• The biennial Global Platform for
Disaster Risk Reduction (GFDRR) acts
as the main global forum for continued
and concerted emphasis on disaster
reduction.

Global Facility
for Disaster Risk
Reduction (GFDRR)
• GFDRR was set up in September 2006
jointly by the World Bank, donor partners
(21 countries and four international
organisations), and key stakeholders of
the International Strategy for Disaster
Reduction (UN-ISDR).
• It is a long-term global partnership
under the ISDR system established
to develop and implement the HFA
through a coordinated programme for
reversing the trend in disaster losses by
2015.
• Its mission is to mainstream disaster
reduction and climate change
adaptation in a country’s development
strategies to reduce vulnerability to
natural hazards.
• As and when required, India has been
participating in the status of observer
in the GFDRR programme.
Asian Disaster
Reduction Centre
(ADRC)
• The Asian Disaster Reduction Center
was established in Kobe, in 1998, with
a mission to enhance disaster resilience
of the member countries, to build safe
communities, and to create a society
where sustainable development is
possible.
• The Center works to build disaster
resilient communities and to establish
networks among countries through
many programs including personnel
exchanges in this field.
• Currently there are 29 member countries
of ADRC.
53
• Each member country has to bear the
annual contribution calculated on the
basis of GDP.
• India is one of the founder members of
ADRC.
Asian Disaster
Preparedness
Centre (ADPC)
• ADPC was established in 1986 at
Bangkok,Thailand.
• It is a non-profit, non-political,
autonomous, regional organization
serving as a regional centre in
Asia-Pacific for promoting disaster
preparedness, disaster mitigation,
awareness generation, exchange of
information, community participation
etc.
• India is a member of the Board of
Trustees (BoT), since August 2000.
• Union Home Secretary is one of the
Members of the BoT of ADPC, since
the transfer of subject of Disaster
Management to the Ministry of
Home Affairs.11.7. SAARC Disaster
Management Centre (SDMC)
• SAARC Disaster Management Centre
(SDMC) was set up in October 2006 at
the premises of National Institute of
Disaster Management in New Delhi.
• The Executive Director of the NIDM is
also the Director of SAARC Disaster
Management Centre New Delhi.
• The Centre has the mandate to serve all
eight Member Countries of South Asia
Association of Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) - by providing policy advice
and facilitating capacity building
services including strategic learning,
research, training, system development
and exchange of information for
effective disaster risk reduction (DRR)
and management in South Asia.
Sustainable
Development Goals
(SDGs) with Targets
related to Disaster
Risk
Goal 1 End poverty in all its forms
everywhere
• 1.5 - By 2030, build the resilience of the
poor and those in vulnerable situations
and reduce their exposure and
vulnerability to climate-related extreme
events and other economic, social and
environmental shocks and disasters
Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food
security and improved nutrition and
promote sustainable agriculture
• 2.4 - By 2030, ensure sustainable food
production systems and implement
resilient agricultural practices that
increase productivity and production,
that help maintain ecosystems, that
strengthen capacity for adaptation
to climate change, extreme weather,
drought, flooding and other disasters
and that progressively improve land
and soil quality
Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and
promote well-being for all at all
ages
• 3.d - Strengthen the capacity of all
countries, in particular developing
countries, for early warning, risk
reduction and management of national
and global health risks.
Goal 6. Ensure availability and
sustainable management of water
and sanitation for all
• 6.6 - By 2020, protect and restore
water-related ecosystems, including
mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers,
aquifers and lakes.
54
Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure,
promote inclusive and sustainable
industrialization and foster
innovation
• 9.1 - Develop quality, reliable, sustainable
and resilient infrastructure, including
regional and trans border infrastructure,
to support economic development and
human well-being, with a focus on
affordable and equitable access for all.
• 9.a - Facilitate sustainable and
resilient infrastructure development
in developing countries through
enhanced financial, technological and
technical support to African countries,
least developed countries, landlocked
developing countries and small island
development states.
Goal 11. Make cities and human
settlements inclusive, safe, resilient
and sustainable
• 11.5 - By 2030, significantly reduce the
number of deaths and the number
of people affected and substantially
decrease the direct economic losses
relative to global gross domestic
product caused by disasters, including
water-related disasters, with a focus
on protecting the poor and people in
vulnerable situations.
• 11.b - By 2020, substantially increase the
number of cities and human settlements
adopting and implementing integrated
policies and plans towards inclusion,
resource efficiency, mitigation and
adaptation to climate change,
resilience to disasters, and develop
and implement, in line with the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
2015-2030, holistic disaster risk
management at all levels.
• 11.c - Support least developed
countries, including through financial
and technical assistance, in building
sustainable and resilient buildings
utilizing local materials.
Goal 13. Take urgent action to
combat climate change and its
impacts
• 13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive
capacity to climate-related hazards
and natural disasters in all countries
• 13.2 - Integrate climate change measures
into national policies, strategies and
planning.
• 13.3 - Improve education, awareness-
raising and human and institutional
capacity on climate change mitigation,
adaptation, impact reduction and early
warning.
• 13.a - Implement the commitment
undertaken by developed-country
parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change to a
goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion
annually by 2020 from all sources
to address the needs of developing
countries in the context of meaningful
mitigation actions.
• 13.b - Promote mechanisms for raising
capacity for effective climate change-
related planning and management in
least developed countries, including
focusing on women, youth and local
and marginalized communities
Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably
use the oceans, seas and
marine resources for sustainable
development
• 14.2 - By 2020, sustainably manage and
protect marine and coastal ecosystems
to avoid significant adverse impacts,
including by strengthening their
resilience, and take action for their
restoration in order to achieve healthy
and productive oceans
Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote
sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage
forests, combat desertification, and
halt and reverse land degradation
55
and halt biodiversity loss
• 15.1 - By 2020, ensure the conservation,
restoration and sustainable use of
terrestrial and inland freshwater
ecosystems and their services, in
particular forests, wetlands, mountains
and drylands, in line with obligations
under international agreements.
• 15.2 - By 2020, promote the
implementation of sustainable
management of all types of forests, halt
deforestation, restore degraded forests
and substantially increase afforestation
and reforestation globally
• 15.3 - By 2030, combat desertification,
restore degraded land and soil, including
land affected by desertification, drought
and floods, and strive to achieve a land
degradation-neutral world.
Satellites in DM
International efforts
• Satellite communication and navigation
systems also play an important role in
disaster management with improved
technological options
• ISRO as the signatory of International
Charter “Space and Major Disasters”
supports various Authorised Users (AUs)
of the Charter during major disasters
• Under the framework of APRSAF
initiative Sentinel Asia, ISRO supports
the disaster management activities in
Asia-Pacific region
• In addition to the Charter and Sentinel
Asia, ISRO also supports the Disaster
Management activities of UNESCAP
(Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) under
regional co-operation.
International Charter “Space and Major
Disasters”
• It is a non-binding charter which
provides for the charitable and
humanitarianretaskedacquisition of
and transmission of space satellite
data to relief organizations in the
event of major disasters
• Initiated by the European Space
Agency and the French space agency
CNES it officially came into operation
on November 1, 2000
APRSAF
• The Asia-Pacific Regional Space
Agency Forum (APRSAF) was
established in 1993 to enhance space
activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Space agencies, governmental bodies,
international organizations, private
companies, universities, and research
institutes from over 40 countriesand
regions take part in APRSAF, the
largest space-related conference in
the Asia-Pacific region
Indian efforts
• In India, RISAT 2BR1 and RISAT 2B in
the Low Earth Orbits (through Earth
Observation applications which
can help in prediction of detectable
disasters) and INSAT 3DR and 3D in
theGeoStationary Orbits (For prediction
as well as communication during
and post disaster) help in disaster
management applications.
• Also, initiatives like GAGAN and GEMINI
initiatives can help in weather prediction
and cyclone awareness applications
56
GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented
Navigation-GAGAN project)
• The Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO) and Airports
Authority of India (AAI) have
implemented the GPS Aided Geo
Augmented Navigation-GAGAN
project as a Satellite Based
Augmentation System (SBAS) for the
Indian Airspace.
• The objective of GAGAN to establish,
deploy and certify satellite based
augmentation system for safety-of-
life civil aviation applications and
weather predictions in India has been
successfully completed.
• The system is interoperable with
other international SBAS systems
like US-WAAS, European EGNOS,
and Japanese MSAS etc. GAGAN
GEO footprint extends from Africa to
Australia and has expansion capability
for seamless navigation services across
the region.
Gagan Enabled Mariner’s Instrument for
Navigation and Information (GEMINI)
device
• For seamless and effective
dissemination of emergency
information and communication on
disaster warnings, Potential Fishing
Zones (PFZ) and Ocean States Forecasts
(OSF) to fishermen, the Government
today launched the Gagan Enabled
Mariner’s Instrument for Navigation
and Information (GEMINI) device.
• The satellite based communication
is the only suitable solution for the
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”.
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
Disaster Risk
Reduction (DiDRR)
• "Empowering women and persons with
disabilities to publicly lead and promote
gender equitable and universally
accessible response, recovery,
rehabilitation and reconstruction
approaches is key" - Sendai framework
for disaster risk reduction
• Persons with disabilities may be placed
at increased disaster risk due to cognitive
or physical impairments. These factors
may limit the ability of a person with
disabilities to access information and/
or to act on that information.
Need for Disability Inclusive
Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR)
• Large population of disabled
people: In India, of the 2.68 crores
(about. 2.1% of total population)
persons with disability, men with
disabilities constitute 56% and women
with disabilities make up the rest 44%.
• Lack of readiness: Persons with
disabilities are more likely to be left
behind or abandoned during evacuation
in disasters and conflicts due to a lack
of preparation and planning, as well as
inaccessible facilities and services and
transportation systems.
• Disproportionate impacts:
Disruption to physical, social, economic,
and environmental networks and
support systems affect persons with
disabilities much more than the general
population.
• Inaccessibility: Most shelters and
refugee camps are not accessible and
people with disabilities are many times
even turned away from shelters and
refugee camps due to a perception that
they need “complex medical” services.
58
• High mortality rate of disabled
people: They have 2 to 4 times the
mortality rate of the general population
in acute onset of disasters, with that
of women with disability being even
higher.
• Social discrimination: There is also
a potential for discrimination on the
basis of disability when resources are
scarce.
National and International
Framework:
• Section 8 of the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities Act, 2016 guarantees equal
protection and safety for persons with
disabilities in these situations.
» It also mandates Disaster Management
Authorities at District/State/National
levels to take measures to include
persons with disabilities in disaster
management activities and to keep
them duly informed about these.
» These authorities are mandatorily
required to involve the concerned
State Commissioner for Persons
with Disabilities during disaster
management.
• The United Nations Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities pays
particular attention to the obligation
of States parties to undertake “all
necessary measures to ensure the
protection and safety of persons
with disabilities in situations of risk,
including situations of armed conflict,
humanitarian emergencies and the
occurrence of natural disasters.”
National Disaster Management
Guidelines on Disability Inclusive
Disaster Risk Reduction
• Principle of disability inclusion
» Strengthen the implementation process
on providing appropriate support
 to people with disabilities when
responding to disasters.
» Empower persons with disabilities and
their representative organization to
contribute to all aspects of DiDRR so
that they are viewed not as passive
actors but as decision makers.
» Targets: These guidelines are intended
primarily for the government. officials/
administration working in the field
of DRR at national, state and local
level, international NGO, person
with disability, disabled people’s
organisation.
• Some of the guidelines are
» Centre should conduct census and
survey of people with disabilities for
data & resource mapping
» Inclusion of issues of persons with
disability and their organization in
disaster risk reduction activities as
stipulated in the Right of Person with
59
Disability Act (RPWDA) 2016 has to be
institutionalised.
» Awareness of DRR planning and
services among people with disabilities
has to be universalized.
» Adoption of universal design principle,
facilitation of accessibility and access
to assistive technology
» Preparedness and mitigation strategies
such as national stockpiling of durable
medical equipment, life saving
devicesetc for reducing the chance of
increasing their disability.
» Early warning system mechanism for
informing people with intellectual
disability through repeated and
alternative formats such as audio and
sign languages.
» Centre should earmark specific
budgetary allocation towards DiDRR
and state should mobilize and utilize
CSR fund and District mineral fund
towards implementation of inclusive
actions.
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
our society because of which women
have little say in decision making,
particularly outside the household, they
are comparatively less literate, have
lesser mobility and are dependent on
men folk in most matters. Consequently,
they are not adequately consulted in
the decision making process in the
community and have a lesser role in all
activities.
2nd ARC recommendations:
• The vulnerability analysis should
bring out the specific vulnerabilities of
women and these should be addressed
in any mitigation effort. Disaster
mitigation plans should be prepared, in
consultation with women’s’ groups.
• Rescue and relief operations should
focus on the most vulnerable groups
- women, children, the elderly and the
physically challenged.
• Relief measures should take into
account the special requirements of
women and other vulnerable groups.
Particular attention needs to be given
to their physical and mental well-being
through health care and counselling.
• In the recovery phase, efforts should
focus on making women economically
independent by offering them
opportunities of earning incomes,
providing training in new skills, forming
self-help groups, providing micro-
finance, marketing facilities etc.
• The title of new assets created should
be in the names of both husband and
wife.
• Camp managing committees should
have adequate number of women
representatives.
• Trauma counselling and psychological
care should be provided to widows and
women and other persons in distress.
These activities should form part of the
disaster management plan.
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• Arrangements have to be made for
orphaned children on a long term basis.
NGOs should be encouraged to play a
major role in their rehabilitation
Role of technology
in Disaster
Management
While technology cannot replace the vital
resources people need in disaster – food,
water, shelter, or comfort from loved ones -
it is transforming disaster relief efforts and
paving the way for an evolving approach
to international aid: one that can reach
more people, faster, and help communities
to develop resilience for when the next
disaster strikes.
• Aerial robotics: Aerial robotics,
including unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs), show tremendous potential
to transform humanitarian aid.
Using this technology, organizations
can map terrain more effectively,
assess damage in real time, increase
situational awareness through high-
resolution mapping and deliver items
faster, cheaper and more efficiently.E.g.
global non-profit WeRobotics’
programme, AidRobotics, identifies
local humanitarian needs and incubates
robotics solutions via regional Flying
Labs™
• Modern Cameras: infrared cameras
and advanced listening systems enable
UAVs to uncover survivors from rubble
or among flames and live-stream night
footage, increasing the success of
critical rescue efforts.
• Modern Communication: In times
of disaster, basic connectivity is a
form of aid that connects people to
the resources critical for survival and
enables humanitarian organizations to
quickly deliver life-saving information.
For example,Cisco’s Tactical Operations
(TacOps) takes advantage of the
 latest mobile networking technology,
including cloud-controlled Meraki
technology, to establish connectivity
when disaster strikes, often faster than
government or local providers can.
• Social media solutions: Mobile
solutions, social media and digital
communities provide a new way for
organizations and their beneficiaries
to communicate.This includes the
development of a feedback loop
through which information collected is
BIA DATA IN DISATER MANAGEMENT:THE OPPORTUNITIES
applied to develop a deeper and more
real-time understanding of both sector
and service user needs, leading to
faster, more efficient responses which
ultimately supports beneficiaries. For
example, the World Food Programmes
(WFP) Mobile Vulnerability Analysis
and Mapping (mVAM) uses mobile
technology to address the barrier of
aggregate and manual data collection.
• Use of big data in disaster
management:

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

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
disasters.
• Post Disaster Response - The
public infrastructure sectors - energy,
transportat ion, tele-communication
• are also crucial to step up the overall
disaster response, thus making their
resilience critical for effective post-
disaster response.
• Bring down the economic Loss- It
could bring down the economic cost
of rebuilding the whole set up that the
nations face due to natural disasters.
Steps to be taken:
• States need to incorporate infrastructure
resilience in their national and local
disaster risk reduction strategies.
• Infrastructure regulations must be
strengthened. This is about developing
risk informed laws, regulations and
public policies which prevent the
creation of new risk and reduce existing
risk.
• The exposure of infrastructure
investments to risk should be measured
and monitored with disclosure of
disaster risks made mandatory.
• Actively engage and create incentives
for private sector to participate in the
quest for building sustainable and
resilient infrastructure. This is because
the vast majority of investment for
building infrastructure will be done
by the private sector. Without their
engagement, it is difficult to meet
demands and fill the financing gap.
• Enhance knowledge and build
capacity. Infrastructure development
involves multiple stakeholders, and this
is why awareness-raising, advocacy
and training programmes targeting
each category of stakeholder across a
range of national and local contexts is
necessary.
• Disaster Risk Financing strategy could
include budget reserve funds as well as
64
disaster risk transfer instruments like
catastrophic bonds.
• The “Build Back Better” principle must
be followed not only for the structural
design of the infrastructure but also in
terms of management systems around
it.
2nd ARC recommendations
• Structural prevention measures
should be a part of long term disaster
management plan for an area.
• Appropriate Zoning Regulations need
to be extended to all areas. Phasing of
the areas to be covered should be done
based on the intensity of the hazard
anticipated.
• Building byelaws should incorporate the
disaster resistant features of buildings.
Since safety codes are complex and
technical, it is necessary to issue
simplified guidelines which could be
understood by the citizens.
• The existing system of enforcement
of building regulations needs to be
revised. It should be professionalised
by licensing architects and structural
engineers for assessment of structures
and certification of safe buildings.
• The standards prescribed by BIS for
disaster resistant buildings should be
available in the public domain, free of
cost.
• In so far as the rural areas are
concerned, methods of dissemination
including setting up of Building
Technology Demonstration Centres and
undertaking demonstrative disaster
constructions in severe hazard prone
areas should be taken up.
Coalition for Disaster Resilient
Infrastructure (CDRI)
• It was launched by PM Modi in
September 2019 at the UN Secretary-
General’s Climate Action Summit in
New York, US.
• CDRI is a multi-stakeholder global
partnership of national governments,
UN agencies and programmes,
multilateral development banks and
financing mechanisms, the private
sector, and academic and knowledge
institutions. At present, it is not an
intergovernmental organization,
which are ordinarily treaty-based
organizations.
• The CDRI aims to promote the resilience
of infrastructure systems to climate
and disaster risks, thereby ensuring
sustainable development.
• It seeks to rapidly expand the
development and retrofit of resilient
infrastructure to respond to the
Sustainable Development Goals
imperatives of expanding universal
access to basic services, enabling
prosperity and decent work.
• It brings together a multitude of
stakeholders to create a mechanism
to assist countries to upgrade their
capacities, systems, standards,
regulations and practices with regard
to infrastructure development in
accordance with their risk context and
economic needs.
Community based
disaster Manag
ement
• ‘Where communities are equipped and
prepared, disasters clearly have much
lesser impact, especially in terms of the
loss of lives’ -UNISDR
• Community based disaster risk
reduction has emerged as a key priority
area in disaster risk management. Being
the first responders in such situations,
the community assumes significance
in disaster response, mitigation and
management interventions.
65
Rationale for Community Based
Disaster Management (CBDM):
• Disaster risk reduction measures are
most successful when they involve
the direct participation of the people
most likely to be exposed to hazards.
Community is the first to respond to a
disaster.
• Investments in community- based
preparedness and early warning
systems have proved to save lives,
protect property, and reduce economic
losses.
• Failure to understand the risk behaviour
and culture of local communities can
lead to badly designed preparedness
measures including early warning
systems.
• The involvement of local people
promotes self-reliance and ensures
that emergency management plans
meet local needs and circumstances.
indigenous knowledge, wisdom and
innovation with respect to hazards and
mitigation.
• Disaster relief and recovery responses
that do not directly involve the affected
communities frequently provide
inappropriate and unsustainable forms
of assistance.
• Organized communities are better able
to demand downward accountability.
• A community-level focus facilitates the
identification of vulnerable groups.
• Community Based Disaster
Management (CBDM) approach
promotes a bottom-up approach
working in harmony with the top - down
approach, to address the challenges
and difficulties.
Indian DM framework and
Community based disaster
Management:
• Disaster Management Act, 2005
 – It facilitates community training and
awareness programmes for prevention
of disaster or mitigation with support
of local authorities, governmental
and non-governmental organisations.
It encourages participation of non-
governmental organizations and
voluntary social-welfare institutions
working at the grassroots level in the
district for disaster management.
• National Policy on Disaster
Management 2009 (NPDM) - It
lays special emphasis on community
based disaster preparedness. The
policy recognizes community as the
bedrock of the process of disaster
response. It also gives emphasize on
training, simulations and mock drills of
vulnerable sections.
• The National Disaster
Management Plan (NDMP) 2019
– It reinforces the need for enhancing
the capacity of communities, as they
are the first responders to disasters
and this capacity building includes
awareness, sensitization, orientation
and developing skills of communities
and community leaders.
Steps to be taken:
• Community Preparedness - alleviation, school education and
Community preparedness can be
thought of as the advance capacity
of a community to respond to the
consequences of an adverse event by
having plans in place so that people
know what to do and where to go
if a warning is issued or a hazard is
observed.
Key components of a community
preparedness program include:
• Raising public awareness and effecting
behavioural change in the areas of
mitigation and preparedness
• Deployment of stable, reliable, and
effective warning systems
66
• Development of effective messaging
for inducing favourable community
response to mitigation, preparedness,
and warning communications
• Community Empowerment -
Being at the forefronts, communities
need to have capacity to respond to
threats themselves. It is for this reason
that communities should be involved in
managing the risks that may threaten
their well-being. Provide technical and
legal advice to communities to help
them to implement their own mitigation
projects and programmes, and to
negotiate effectively with governments
and agencies.
• Time and Resource budgeting –
It is important that we follow a process
and do it efficiently within a given time
frame and resources (human, physical
and financial), further it needs to be
ensured, that no step is left midway
or incomplete without achieving the
desired result.
• Convergence - Convergence of
government schemes and programs
implemented by the national and
state governments is extremely crucial
in the context of community disaster
management. Programs for poverty
nutrition, maternal and child health,
drinking water and sanitation programs
etc., if implemented carefully, can go a
long way in empowering communities
• Gender sensitive CBDM - Working
with existing women's networks helps
strengthening women's participation
in the community's decision-
making processes. Working with
existing women's networks helps
strengthening women's participation
in the community's decision-making
processes.
• Inclusion of other disadvantaged
groups - Most of the deaths and
injuries in the aftermath of a disaster
 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

15th FC
recommendations on
Disaster Management
• The Commission recommended
setting up National and State Disaster
Management Funds (NDMF and
SDMF) for the promotion of local-level
mitigation activities. The Commission
has recommended retaining the
existing cost-sharing patterns between
the centre and states to fund the SDMF
(new) and the SDRF (existing). The cost-
sharing pattern between centre and
states is (i) 75:25 for all states, and (ii)
90:10 for north-eastern and Himalayan
states.
• The terminology, “Disaster Risk
Management” instead of “Disaster
Management” has been introduced
for the first time. This signals a move
towards an advanced approach
of managing disaster risk, which is
proactive and preparedness based
rather than response centric.
• The term ‘river erosion’ has been used for
the first time in the Finance Commission
report. This may mark the beginning of
systematic efforts to address ‘riverine
erosion’ as a significant hazard affecting
vulnerable communities.
Some Case Studies
Traditional Knowledge for Success stories
Disaster Management
• If tribals in the Andamans could survive
the tsunami, it was because their
existing warning systems worked well in
comparison to our non-existent modern
systems.
• The fact that traditional houses of
wood and stone survived the Uttarkashi
earthquake not so long ago while
modern buildings collapsed offered a
similar lesson.
68
• In the flood-prone rural North-East, one
can find houses on bamboo stilts that
allow flood waters to flow under them
rather than through or over!
• Native intelligence is significant and
technical expertise needs to treat this as
complementary. This intelligence needs
to be tapped for devising approaches
to management of disasters. Further,
policies and laws for disaster
management need to provide space for
such intelligence to be counted.
Public Address System Saves
Lives in Pondicherry Villages
• In the coastal villages of Nallavadu and
Veerampattinam in the Union Territory
of Pondicherry, a Public Address System
(PAS) installed in their ‘Rural Knowledge
Centres’ saved thousands of lives when
the tsunami struck on 26th December,
2004.
• One of the residents of Nallavadu, who
lived abroad, heard about the tsunami
and informed his village on telephone.
The villagers used the PAS to warn
the residents who quickly vacated the
village and were saved.
• In Veerampattinam, a fisherman was
repairing his boat when he noticed
a dramatic increase in the sea level.
He raised an alarm which alerted the
Panchayat leaders who used the PAS to
make the villagers vacate the area.
Disaster Management in India:
• The Indian government's "zero casualty"
policy for cyclones and the pinpoint
accuracy of the India Meteorological
Department's (IMD) early warning
system has helped reduce the possibility
of deaths from cyclone Fani in Odisha.
• India's policy of minimising fatalities
from cyclones has been proven by past
performances as in cyclone Phailin in
2013, when famously the casualty rate
was kept to as low as 45 despite the
intensity of the storm.
Disaster Management