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Natural Hazards and Disasters

Last updated on April 7, 2024 by ClearIAS Team

Lives and property can be protected by releasing precise forecasts and warnings in a simple-to-understand manner and by educating people on how to prepare for such hazards before they become disasters.

Since the beginning of civilization, man has been subject to natural hazards and disasters. However, the world has been undergoing a variety of changes, both slow and catastrophic. To investigate Natural Hazards and Disasters and strategies to deal with them in-depth, it is important to learn some basic concepts.

Table of Contents

Changes that affect humans adversely are called hazards.

A natural disaster pertains to a natural phenomenon that occurs in proximity and poses a threat to people, structures, and economic assets caused by biological, geological, seismic, hydrological, or meteorological conditions or processes in the natural environment.

As per the Disaster Preparedness Training Manual, Philippine National Red Cross 1954, hazards are defined as “phenomena that pose a threat to people, structures or economic assets and which may cause a disaster. They could be either manmade or naturally occurring in our environment.”

Types of Hazards

Hazards are generally categorized according to their causes, mitigation strategies, or effects on societies. We will limit the classification of disasters to those that are based on their causes only.

Types of Hazards depending upon their causes

Hazards are classified as either natural or man-made. Socio-natural hazards are the third category of hazards that are brought on by both man and nature.

Natural Hazards

These are brought on by natural causes, and man has no control over them. The primary example of natural hazards are as follows:

• Earthquakes
• Volcanic eruptions
• Cyclonic storms
• Floods Droughts

Man-made Hazards

These are caused by the undesirable activities of man. Such hazards include:

• Leakage of toxic waste.
• Pollution of air , water, and land Dam failures
• War and Civil Strife Terrorism

Socio-natural Hazards

These are the result of a combined force of both human misconduct and natural forces.

For example-

• the uncontrolled destruction of trees, especially in the river catchment areas, may result in an increase in the frequency and severity of floods and droughts.
• The risk of storm surges increases due to mangrove loss.
• Although landslides are normally caused by natural forces, yet, they can be triggered and their frequency and impact can be increased because of building roads in mountainous regions, excavating tunnels, and engaging in mining and quarrying.

An extreme form of hazard leads to disaster.

Disaster (French des meaning ‘bad’ and aster meaning ‘star’) is a manmade or natural event that results in widespread loss of life and property.

Thus, disaster is defined as “A serious disruption of the functioning of a society, causing widespread human, material or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope using its own resources.”

Disaster, according to the United Nations, is the occurrence of a sudden or significant catastrophe that impairs a society’s (or community’s) fundamental structure and daily operations.

According to the World Bank, a disaster is an extraordinary, short-lived event that significantly disrupts a nation’s economy. It is an event or a series of events that results in casualties, property damage, or a loss of essential services or sources of livelihood on a scale that is greater than what the affected communities are typically able to handle without assistance.

Hazards and disasters are closely connected and occasionally used interchangeably; a hazard is a threat, whereas a disaster is an event.

Classification of Disaster

Disasters are usually classified on the basis of their origin as-

• Tectonic occurrence (earthquakes, volcanoes)
• Topographical occurrence (landslides. avalanches)
• Meteorological (hurricanes, cyclones, tornadoes , floods, droughts)
• Infestic (locust invasion of crops, epidemics), and
• Human (industrial accidents, nuclear bombs).

Vulnerability

The terms like ‘earthquake-prone’, ‘drought-prone’, or ‘flood-prone’ areas are used to describe the distributional effect of the concerned hazards. People who live there are susceptible to a variety of dangers and calamities.

Thus, vulnerability is the extent to which an Individual or a community, or an area is exposed to the impact of a hazard.

According to the National Institute of Disaster Management (formerly National Centre for Disaster Management), the definition of vulnerability is defined as “the extent to which a community, structure, service, or geographic area is likely to be damaged or disturbed by the effect of particular hazards due to either nature, construction, and proximity to hazardous terrain or disaster-prone area.

Natural Hazards and Disasters in India

Because of its subcontinental dimensions, geographical situation, and behavior of the monsoon, India is exposed to various natural hazards and disasters like drought, flood, cyclones, earthquakes, etc year after year.

Four major disasters which adversely affect different parts of the country are drought, flood, cyclone, and earthquake. Only one state (West Bengal), faces all four types of disasters.

It is not uncommon to experience more than one or two types of disasters affecting different parts of the country at the same time. For example, there may be floods in the Brahmaputra Valley, drought in Rajasthan, and cyclonic storms in some coastal areas.

The most alarming aspect is how frequently and violently these hazards and disasters are occurring in various sections of the country.

• 55% of the total area is in Seismic Zones III-IV and vulnerable to earthquakes.
• 68% of the net sown area is vulnerable to drought.
• 40 million hectares of land are vulnerable to floods.
• 8% of the total land area particularly along the eastern coast and Gujarat coast is vulnerable to tropical cyclones.
• The sub-Himalayan region and the Western Ghats are vulnerable to landslides.
• Out of the total 7,516 km long coastline, close to 5,700 km is prone to tropical cyclones and tsunamis.

Yokohama Strategy and International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR)

Yokohama Strategy is a Plan of Action for a Safer World.

World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction happened in the city of Yokohama from May 23rd-27th 1994.

It recognized that society as a whole has grown more vulnerable to natural catastrophes and that the effect of disasters in terms of human and financial losses has increased recently.

In order to lessen the losses caused by these disasters, the conference established the Yokohama strategy as a guide.

The resolution of the World Conference on Natural Disasters Reduction is as mentioned below:

• Each country has a sovereign duty to safeguard its people from natural disasters.
• given top priority to the developing nations, especially the least developed, landlocked nations, and small island developing states
• Develop and enhance national capabilities, and if necessary, national legislation, for the mitigation, prevention, and preparedness of natural and other disasters.
• strengthening institutional and human capacity,
• technology sharing: the collection, dissemination, and utilization of information; and
• mobilisation of resources

Article Written By: Priti Raj

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Natural disasters in India have always posed a challenge for the Government. Decades back it was difficult to predict any natural disaster like earthquake, hurricanes, floods and Tsunamis and therefore making the relief operations even more difficult and complex. Apparently this is not the case today, with the advent of high end research and development in the area of environment and disaster management it is now possible to predict such natural calamities and also mitigate the adverse effects of such calamities.

Relief funds are helpful only when it reaches the actual beneficiaries, but in a country like India where there is no proper mechanism of the funds reaching these beneficiaries ,relief funds only adds to the advantage of the politicians and bureaucrats who get a golden opportunity to siphon away those funds without any accountability. This is one of the reasons why the government should encourage ''Aadhar" cards ,through which the beneficiaries' bank account can be linked and funds would be directly transferred to that account hence eliminating the need of any middlemen ,but as of now this initiative has a long way to go and become a reality. Till then lets focus on what is the other alternative.

As mentioned earlier natural calamities like floods, earthquakes ,hurricanes can be predicted with the use of modern technology ,this further would give enough time to prepare for the relief operations, but harnessing these technologies and making the best use of them depends on how effectively the staffs and officers of various departments related to disaster management and relief ,work and coordinate between each other. There is a noticeable lack of synergy and also there exists a wide communication gap between these departments(IMD, NDRF, Municipalities ,etc) as a result of which crucial information related to such disasters are missed hence preventing and mitigating their adverse effects becomes very difficult. One more factor is readiness. Stating this I would like to quote a phrase "The more you sweat in peace, the lesser you bleed in war". The personnel of these departments should be subjected to continuous training and monitoring in order to ascertain their preparedness for such unforeseen natural disasters. Moreover general public should also be educated on the basics of disaster management. This can be done through informative posters, radio, doordarshan etc.

A good example of proper relief and disaster management was when the cyclone "Hud Hud" had hit the coastal cities of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. No doubt there was a significant economic and financial damage but on the other hand there was a minimal loss of human life. This was possible since there was prior information on the cyclone and hence enough time was there to evacuate the people living near the coastal areas .Many a times such crucial information are missed and the outcome ends up to be disastrous.

Where as in the case of Jammu & Kashmir it was only after the flash flood had occurred and reached to its peak then the relief operations started. There was no prior warning of any such floods nor were the weather department successful in predicting a heavy rainfall .There was no prior preparedness of the authorities in this case. Moreover there was no proper infrastructure in terms of drainage and other facilities. Now the government has released Rs 750 Cr for relief. It is now left to see how effectively these funds are utilised and whether the actual beneficiaries receive their share of money.

With this I would like conclude that proper preparedness of relief operations are more crucial and important than distributing funds after the disaster occurs.

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Essay on Disaster Management in India for Students in English

January 5, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on Disaster Management: Humans generally do not have any hold on the disaster in a natural calamity situation. They can do very little to avert the situation or prevent them. To preserve lives and protect them from danger, safety measures and emergency guidelines need to be implemented. These planning strategies should be ready in place before the occurrence of a natural disaster. Robust policies on disaster management could save many lives and property.

Essay on Disaster Management 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Disaster Management Essay in English, suitable for class 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

A disaster is defined as any large scale occurrence that disrupts human society’s normal functioning and leads to widespread loss of life, property, and environment that exceeds the surviving population’s capability to cope with their resources. Every country is prone to disasters, and India is no exception to them. In general, disasters can be classified into two types, natural and human-made disasters.

While the latter can be prevented by cautious actions, the former can only be mitigated to an extent. Disaster management is the organisation and management of resources and services that deal with humanitarian aspects of emergencies caused by disasters, specifically involving the preparedness, response, and recovery to lessen the impact of disasters.

As per the estimates in the vulnerability atlas, about 60% of area is prone to earthquakes , 12% region risks flooding and 8% of the total landmass is vulnerable to cyclones. Furthermore of the 159.7 million hectares of agricultural land, 68% is prone to drought. While these are the conventional natural disasters listed, there are many more that have occurred due to wars, human negligence and civil disharmony.

Natural Disasters: These disasters occur naturally and we do not have any control over it. The most common of all the natural disasters is earthquakes. It is defined as sudden turbulent shaking of the earth. The origin of earthquake is known as the epicentre from where the shock waves traverse outwards. Earthquakes are primary disasters which combining with the environmental factors can give rise to secondary disasters like landslides, floods, fires, etc. When it occurs inside oceans, it gives rise to giant tidal waves called tsunamis.

Draughts occur due to shortage of groundwater, scarcity of rainfall and drying up of local water bodies. Draughts are the leading cause of crop failure and lead to food shortages, dehydration and malnutrition. Economically, it affects the farmers adversely as they become unemployed. This further makes them tumble into the hideous cycle of poverty, hunger and insanitation.

Man-made Disasters: These types of disasters can be easily prevented if we practice our profession and day to day activities responsibly and cautiously. On a bigger scale, political and economic factors also play a crucial role in the origin of man-made disasters.

Industrial disasters are primary type of man-made disasters. These include gas leak, chemical leak, explosions, fires, radioactive breakdown, etc. Depending upon the product or substances involved in the disaster, it can have both long and short term effects on human and ecological factors of the environment.

Another deliberately caused disaster is war and use of weapons of mass-destruction. Wars are one man’s victory and a million men’s loss. Other than loss of lives in the form of soldiers and civilians involved, wars also scar the environmental factors of the area where they are fought on.

Management and Mitigation of Disasters

Proper disaster management of natural disasters can be executed keeping in mind the following points:

• Identification of factors of a disaster
• Classification of threat levels
• Public awareness about the disasters
• Pre-emptive measures
• Preparedness to effectively combat disaster
• Well-knitted coordination of mitigation and relief organisation
• Enactment and enforcement of government and administrative policies

India is a signatory of the Hyogo Framework of Action, 2015 under the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction which prescribes the following five-fold process for mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction in a country’s socioeconomic and developmental activities-

• Political Process: This encourages effective governmental policies and institutional frameworks along with allocation of funds and resources for limiting risks of disaster.
• Technical Process: Its goal is to utilise R&D in the field of science and technology for better assessment, monitoring and identification of disaster and improve the existing early warning systems to manage disasters.
• Socio-Educational Process: This seeks to achieve mass awareness and skill development of the citizens of a country to tackle disasters effectively and ensure safety and resilience at personal level.
• Development Process: It includes integrating disaster risk reduction activities among all sectors of development planning and programs.
• Humanitarian Process: This comprises of the activities undertaken to rehabilitate loss- an integral part of risk reduction and ensure rapid response and recovery.

Disaster Management Previous Year Questions (PYQs) | UPSC Mains Examination

On this page you will find all the updates related to the previous year questions of subject Disaster Management for UPSC IAS Mains examination.

Previous Year Disaster Management Questions UPSC Mains Exam: Disaster management is critical in the face of natural calamities such as drought, floods, and earthquakes. As a result, when preparing, the applicant should concentrate on all of the crucial aspects of Disaster Management. The number of questions from the Disaster Management Syllabus is not fixed.

Referring to the disaster management PYQ UPSC will help you understand the pattern and type of questions asked. In the Mains test, candidates can expect 1 to 2 questions from the topic.

Q.1) Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyse the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2023]

Q.2) Explain the mechanism and occurrence of cloudburst in the context of the Indian subcontinent. Discuss two recent examples. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2022]

Q.3) Explain the causes and effects of coastal erosion in India. What are the available coastal management techniques for combating the hazard? [250 words] [15 Marks] [2022]

Q.4) Describe the various causes and the effects of landslides. Mention components of the important components of National Landslide Risk Management strategy. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2021]

Q.5) Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2021]

Q.6) Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2020]

Q.7) Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2019]

Q.8) Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help disaster mitigation in the case of landslides. [250 Words] [15 marks] [2019]

Q.9) Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing ‘Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030)’. How is this framework different from ‘Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005’? [250 Words] [15 marks] [2018]

Q.10) On December 2004, tsunami brought havoc on 14 countries including India. Discuss the factors responsible for occurrence of Tsunami and its effects on life and economy. In the light of guidelines of NDMA (2010) describe the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events. [250 Words] [15 marks] [2017]

Q.11) The frequency of urban floods due to high intensity rainfall is increasing over the years. Discussing the reasons for urban floods, highlight the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2016]

Q.12) With reference to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, discuss the measures to be adopted to mitigate the impact of the recent incidents of cloudbursts in many places of Uttarakhand. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2016]

Q.13) The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2015]

Q.14) Drought has been recognized as a disaster in view of its spatial expanse, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effects on vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), discuss the mechanisms for preparedness to deal with likely El Nino and La Nina fall outs in India. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2014]

Q.15) How important are vulnerability and risk assessment for pre-disaster management? As an administrator, what are key areas that you would focus on in a Disaster Management System? [200 Words] [10 Marks] [2013]

Trends of Disaster Management PYQs For UPSC Mains

In 2023, one question was asked on dam failures. In 2022 only one question from the section related to the mechanism of cloudburst and causes and effects of coastal erosion in India was asked. In 2021,  two questions were asked from disaster management from National Landslide Risk Management Strategy and earthquake related hazards. In the year 2020  one question was asked on the governmental measures for disaster management . In 2019 two questions were raised from the hazard zonation mapping and vulnerability types related to disasters.

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Natural Disasters Essay

Natural disasters are not in the control of human beings. Like many other countries, India is also plagued with many natural disasters because of its geographical location and environment. In the past few decades, the temperature in the Indian subcontinent has risen. A natural calamity is called a disaster when it affects people or property on a large scale. Here are a few sample essays on the topic ‘Natural Disasters’.

100 Words Essay On Natural Disasters

Humans have been subjected to the impact of natural disasters for as long as they have been on Earth. Disasters, unfortunately, are happening all the time. Most of the Natural Disasters we see are caused by natural forces. Therefore, they are almost impossible to prevent from happening. Natural disasters like floods, drought, landslides, earthquakes, and cyclones frequently occur all throughout the world. Often, natural disasters leave mass effects and it can take years to control the damage. However, the negative effects and damages caused by these natural disasters can be reduced significantly if proper warning systems or policies are used.

200 Words Essay On Natural Disasters

Natural disasters are mostly naturally occurring events that greatly damage human lives and assets. Every year, many lives are lost due to natural disasters across the globe. Many people are left with no home or property. They suffer endlessly. Some natural disasters are floods, landslides, cyclones, hurricanes, drought, wildfires. This problem becomes far more severe when a natural disaster occurs in a densely populated place. Unfortunately, most natural disasters are unpreventable from happening. We can only forecast these events and take necessary measures to mitigate the loss.

India is one of the most vulnerable countries to natural disasters because of its unique geological position. Every year India witnesses nearly five cyclones of various intensities. Droughts in summer and mild to strong earthquakes are frequently experienced in many northern parts of India near the Himalayas. In India, wildfires are caused in the forest area during the autumn and summer seasons. Our country is also witnessing dramatic climate changes and massive global warming due to pollution and greenhouse gases. Due to this, natural disasters are becoming more frequent than before.

Coping Up With Natural Disasters

Most natural disasters are out of our control and can occur randomly. All we can do, however, is take necessary precautions as soon as we are able to predict when the disaster is going to take place. Global Warming is an important reason for all these things. Therefore, we must protect and preserve our natural environment. It is essential to warn people of upcoming disasters. A mandatory evacuation should be carried out if necessary. After the disaster, people should be provided financial help to recover from damages and losses from the disaster.

500 Words Essay On Natural Disasters

Natural disasters are events that occur due to either biological activity or human-made activity. Human lives and property are affected for a long time after it occurs. The number of cases is increasing worldwide every day. It is because of the over-exploitation of natural resources by mankind. India suffers significantly from natural disasters due to its vulnerable geographical location. Due to this, our country still needs a proper disaster management unit.

Types Of Natural Disasters

Different kinds of Natural Disasters in India occur very often and have major effects on people’s lives.

Earthquake | An earthquake is a natural event when the Earth's tectonic plates suddenly shift and cause the ground to shake. This shaking can damage buildings and other structures, as well as loss of life. Earthquakes can happen at any time and can strike without warning, making them a frightening and unpredictable phenomenon.

Cyclone | A cyclone is a type of storm characterised by a low-pressure centre and strong winds that spiral inward and upward. Cyclones are also typhoons or hurricanes, depending on the region in which they occur. Cyclones form over warm ocean waters and typically move toward land, where they can cause widespread damage and destruction. They are often accompanied by heavy rainfall and can spawn tornadoes. The destructive power of a cyclone comes from its strong winds, which can reach speeds of over 150 miles per hour. These winds can uproot trees, damage buildings, and create storm surges, large waves that can flood coastal areas.

Wildfire | A wildfire is a large, uncontrolled fire that occurs in a natural habitat, such as a forest, grassland, or prairie. Wildfires can happen due to various factors, including lightning, human activity, and extreme weather conditions. When a wildfire occurs, it can spread quickly, consuming everything in its path. Wildfires can have many adverse effects on the environment and people. For example, they can destroy homes and other buildings and critical infrastructures, such as roads and bridges. They can also cause air pollution and respiratory issues for people living in the area.

Human Activities And Natural Disasters

Human activities can contribute to the occurrence and severity of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires. For example, activities like deforestation, urbanisation, and climate change can increase the likelihood and impact of these events.

Deforestation, which removes vegetation from an area, can increase the risk of natural disasters. Trees and other vegetation hold the upper layer of soil in place, which prevents erosion and landslides. When these plants are removed, the ground becomes more vulnerable to being swept away by heavy rainfall or other natural forces.

Urbanisation, or the growth of cities and towns, can also contribute to natural disasters. As more and more people move into urban areas, the risk of earthquakes, wildfires, and other natural disasters increases. For example, the construction of buildings and other structures can alter the natural landscape, making it more susceptible to damage from earthquakes and other events.

Climate change, the long-term warming of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, can also increase the likelihood and severity of natural disasters. Higher temperatures can lead to more often intense heat waves, droughts, and wildfires. Rising sea levels can cause more severe flooding, particularly in coastal areas.

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• Essay On Natural Disasters

Natural Disasters Essay

500+ words essay on natural disasters.

A natural disaster is defined as an event of nature, which overwhelms local resources and threatens the function and safety of the community. Natural disasters are the consequence of natural phenomena unleashing processes that lead to physical damage and the loss of human lives and capital. Earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, windstorms, floods and droughts are some examples of natural disasters. These disasters disrupt the lives of communities and individuals and the economic activity of the affected area. Students must go through this essay on Natural Disaster and gather ideas to write effective essays on topics related to them. Practising essays on such topics will improve the writing skills of the students and help them score better in the English exam.

Classification of Natural Disasters

Natural disasters result from forces of climate and geology. These are perhaps the most “unexpected” and costly overall in terms of loss of human lives and resources.

Disasters are classified into four categories depending on how they arise:

(1) Internal Earth Processes: It covers geophysical phenomena arising from the internal processes of the earth. It includes earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions etc., which human beings cannot usually predict or prevent.

(2) External Earth Processes: These comprise phenomena such as landslides, collapses, flooding, mudslides etc. These hazards can be avoided and are often associated with man-made alterations in the environment, such as deforestation on hillsides or excavations and many more such activities.

(3) Hydrometeorological Hazards: It is associated with changes in air and ocean temperature. This hazard is responsible for the formation of weather phenomena such as hurricanes and tornadoes, and the precipitation and climate variations that sometimes cause extreme flooding, storm surges, droughts and other hydrological phenomena.

(4) Biological Hazards: Biological disasters result from the proliferation of agents such as bacteria, viruses and toxins that can kill or disable people, harm animals, and crops and damage the environment. Some examples of biological hazards are cholera, dengue, yellow fever, Ebola virus and Marburg virus. The current pandemic situation due to Coronavirus is also an example of biological hazards.

Disaster Management

Disasters have massive human and economic costs. They may cause many deaths, severe injuries, and food shortages. Most incidents of severe injuries and deaths occur during the time of impact, whereas disease outbreaks and food shortages often arise much later, depending on the nature and duration of the disaster. Anticipating the potential consequences of disasters can help determine the actions that need to be started before the disaster strikes to minimize its effects.

Disasters are the ultimate test of a community’s emergency response capability. There are 3 major steps that can be taken to manage disaster which include pre-disaster management, during-disaster management and post-disaster management. The pre-disaster management involves generating data and information about the disasters, preparing vulnerability zoning maps and spreading awareness among the people about these. Apart from these, disaster planning, preparedness and preventive measures are other steps that need to be taken in vulnerable areas.

During disasters, rescue and relief operations such as evacuation, construction of shelters and relief camps, supplying of water, food, clothing and medical aids etc. should be done on an emergency basis. Post-disaster operations involve rehabilitation and recovery of victims. It should concentrate on capacity building in order to cope with future disasters, if any. These measures have special significance to India as about two-thirds of its geographical area and an equal proportion of its population are vulnerable to disasters. The Government of India has also taken some steps for disaster management such as passing the disaster management bill and the establishment of the National Institute of Disaster Management.

Keep learning and stay tuned with BYJU’S for the latest updates on CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive Exams. Also, download the BYJU’S App for interactive study videos.

Frequently Asked Questions on Natural disasters Essay

What are the types of natural disasters.

Floods/tsunamis, wildfires, drought, hurricane/storms and earthquakes are examples for common natural disasters.

How can we control the impact of a natural disaster?

Impact of natural disasters can be mitigated to an extent by creating awareness among the public about counter measures to be taken. Governments could use disaster prediction technology and install warning systems to alert people about impending disasters. Implementing and enforcing building codes is another measure to reduce the after-effects of disasters.

How do natural disasters affect the environment?

Wildfires, floods, and tornadoes cause structural changes to our ecosystem and also damage the natural inhabitation of that area.

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The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 20th May 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

A Minor Girl Victim Support Scheme that Loses its Way 

Why in news.

O n November 30, 2023, the Ministry of Women and Child Development notified the “Scheme for Care and Support to Victims under Section 4 & 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012”. The objective is to provide integrated support and assistance to minor pregnant girl child victims “under one roof” and facilitate immediate emergency and non-emergency access to services for long-term rehabilitation. For reasons best known to the Ministry though, the name of the scheme does not reflect the intents.

What is the POCSO Act 2012?

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, enacted on November 14, 2012, addresses the critical issue of sexual offences against children by outlining both punishments for offenders and support systems for victims. Key sections include:

Section 4: Punishment for Penetrative Sexual Assault

• Individuals found guilty of penetrative sexual assault face imprisonment for a minimum of ten years, which can be extended to life imprisonment. Additionally, they are liable to pay a fine.
• If the victim is under sixteen years old, the offender faces a minimum imprisonment of twenty years, which can extend to life imprisonment, meaning imprisonment for the remainder of their natural life, along with a fine.
• The fine imposed must be fair and reasonable, and it is to be paid to the victim to cover medical expenses and rehabilitation costs.

Section 6: Punishment for Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault

• Those convicted of aggravated penetrative sexual assault are subject to rigorous imprisonment for at least twenty years, which can extend to life imprisonment, implying imprisonment for the remainder of the offender's natural life, or they may face the death penalty. They are also liable to pay a fine.
• Similar to Section 4, the fine must be just and reasonable, intended to support the victim's medical expenses and rehabilitation needs.

A Towering Hazard, the Height of Poor Enforcement

At least 16 people were killed when a massive 250-tonne advertisement hoarding (on Government Railway Police land) in Mumbai's Ghatkopar collapsed during a dust storm.

• In the wake of this tragedy, it is important to examine the safety regulations pertaining to hoardings and who is legally responsible for the event.

What Safety Norms Apply to Hoardings?

Local bodies are responsible for issuing licenses for advertisement hoardings. In Mumbai, this process is governed by several regulations and guidelines:

Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act, 1888 (amended) : According to this act, written permission from the Municipal Commissioner is required to erect advertisement hoardings.

Policy Guidelines for Display of Advertisements, 2018 :

• These guidelines mandate that a registered structural engineer must certify the structural stability of hoardings before they are erected.
• Hoardings existing as of May 1, 2014, must be reinstalled to meet the structural stability requirements.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) :

• The BIS provides technical specifications for calculating wind loads on hoardings.
• It includes formulae for determining the force coefficients applicable to structures exposed to wind.

These regulations ensure that advertisement hoardings in Mumbai are safely constructed and maintained.

What Led to Ghatkopar Incident?

• The massive hoarding did not meet size norms: But was not brought down by official agencies in spite of being a highly visible hazardous structure.
• This was done through the Policy Guidelines for Display of Advertisements 2018 to tap the city’s full financial potential.
• Also, the MMC Act 1888 provides some regulatory exemptions to hoardings on railway land.
• Administrative lethargy: The Government Railway Police cited an ongoing dispute with the Corporation for not enforcing the safety laws on hoardings.
• No database of permits available: For example, no database of permits could be located on the BMC website in the hoardings section.
• Extreme weather events:  The Ghatkopar disaster demonstrates that extreme weather, such as high winds or a cyclone sweeping a city, quickly exposes the weakest infrastructure links, with deadly consequences.

Who is Legally Responsible for the Ghatkopar Incident?

• The government and the owners of the private structures are legally responsible for the incident.
• The owners of the land,
• The agency that put up the structure and the line officials responsible for enforcement,
• The civic officials and police who witnessed flagrant violation of rules but took no action, etc.
• In 2022 , the Delhi HC, after fixing the liability of a public sector bank (BoB), granted compensation in a case where a man was struck by a sign board and the head injury led to his death.

What Needs to be Done to Avoid Ghatkopar like Incidents?

• Governments must diligently protect citizens from potential harm caused by official actions. Strengthening administrative capabilities and tackling corruption are critical priorities. The emergence of digital boards, which offer dynamic displays and the ability for multiple advertisers to share the same screen, has significantly increased revenue for hoarding companies.
• However, it's imperative to enhance disaster management practices in municipalities, especially in crowded urban areas. For example, in a recent Mumbai incident, the proximity of a petrol pump hindered the use of gas cutters, compromising disaster response effectiveness.
• Given the growing challenges posed by climate change, city governments need to reassess the traditional practice of installing large outdoor hoardings near populated areas. This reevaluation is necessary to ensure safety and adapt to evolving environmental conditions.

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