UNIT-I
UNDERSTANDING DISASTER
As per the Oxford dictionary a disaster is “a sudden accident or a natural catastrophe that causes
great damage or loss of life”.
A Disaster is an event or series of events, which gives rise to casualties and damage or loss of
properties, infrastructure, environment, essential services or means of livelihood on such a scale
which is beyond the normal capacity of the affected community to cope with.
Disaster is also sometimes described as a “catastrophic situation in which the normal pattern of
life or ecosystem has been disrupted and extra-ordinary emergency interventions are required to
save and preserve lives and or the environment”.
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”.
A disaster is an event of nature or man-made that leads to sudden disruption of normal life of a
society, causing damage to life and property to such an extent that normal social and economic
values available are inadequate to restore normalcy after a disaster.
Disaster may be defined as a “catastrophic situation in which the normal patterns of life have
been disrupted and extraordinary emergency interventions are required to save and preserve
human lives and the environment”.
A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or
society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the
community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own resources. Though often caused by nature,
disasters can have human origins
As per the Disaster Management Act 2005, a disaster is defined as “a catastrophe, mishap,
calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man-made cause, or by accident
or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and
destruction of property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or
magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area”.
Disasters produce a range of impacts; these include direct, secondary and indirect effects. Direct
effects include deaths, injuries and physical damage. However, secondary disaster impacts such
as releasing fire or hazardous material that is triggered by disasters. Finally, impacts include the
ripple effect resulting from the flow of goods, services, unemployment etc.
Classification of Disasters
Disasters can be classified based on cause, extent of damage and the time they take to manifest.
Many times, the word hazard is used interchangeably with disaster. But it is necessary to clarify
the difference.
Hazard
A hazard is man-made or a natural event that can potentially trigger disaster (earthquakes, mud-
slides, floods, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, drought, economic collapse, and war). It is important
to note that it will not necessarily result in a disaster. This brings us to the important question
about when does a hazard actually pose a risk of becoming a disaster.
Vulnerability
If one is susceptible/ vulnerable to a hazard the risk of being affected is higher. For example:
Poor people leaving in huts are more vulnerable to the wave surges along the sea coast as
compared to people who live in high rise buildings. Vulnerability can be defined as extent of
exposure and susceptibility to losses.
A more relative definition is, “A set of conditions & processes resulting from physical, social,
economic, & environmental factors which increase the susceptibility of a community to the
impact of hazards.”
If we are to analyse who are the most vulnerable, be it any country in the world, the answer is
unanimous – it’s the poor. Poverty increases a person’s susceptibility to the onslaught of a
disaster. Disasters are blind to the social, economic, political and personal status of people so in
some unfortunate way it acts as a leveler. But what it does is make the poor poorer. Figures from
the United Nations Development Programme show that people in countries ranked among the
lowest 20 per cent in the Human Development Index are 10 to 1,000 times more likely to die in a
natural disaster than people from countries in the top 20 per cent.
Types of Vulnerability
Vulnerability may not necessarily be of the same kind in each community. The vulnerability
would depend on the type of hazard that the population is most vulnerable to. In the Andaman &
Nicobar Islands the traditional houses built of bamboo were resistant to earthquakes or tremors,
but the community’s proximity to the sea was their Achilles heel in the event of the tsunami.
Here the vulnerability was not so much economic or social as it was physical. But there were
many RCC houses that were damaged because of the earthquake rather than the tsunami waves.
1. Physical Vulnerability: Location, Structural Design, Infrastructure
2. Social Vulnerability: Poverty, Lack of opportunity, lack of education
3. Economic Vulnerability: Social Groups, Class differences
It is imperative to note that though we talk about physical vulnerability we are not speaking in
terms of the building or the structure’s vulnerability. Here the vulnerability is of the people who
live in the building, which is structurally weak or can be said to be unsafe.
A vulnerability Analysis can be defined as, “the relationship between the level of risk, local
capacities, and the living conditions of the threatened community’ (Trujillo). This involves
considering ‘the wider factors that determine the conditions in which such communities live’ and
undertakes an analysis of local capacities in two dimensions: institutional framework for
management of disasters, and current capacities in civil society.
Capacity
Another factor which increases the risk to a disaster is the capacity of a community. The capacity
of the community is the combination of all the strengths and resources in a community that can
aid towards reducing the level of a risk or effects of a disaster. In the event of the tsunami, two
states in India affected by the tsunami had projected very different pictures. In the state of
Andhra Pradesh, the number of lives lost was much lower than that of those in the neighbouring
state of Tamil Nadu. One of the biggest contributing factors to this was the long-term
Community Based Disaster Preparedness Programme that was being carried out in most of the
coastal villages of AP. The people were better prepared at the community level as compared to
people in TN.
We have been mentioning the term risk throughout this section. What does risk mean in terms of
a disaster? A risk is the potential/probability or likelihood of a disaster happening. The Crunch
and Release model highlights how the vulnerability of a community and the underlying issues
put pressure and in the event of a hazard can lead to a disaster. Another factor that plays an
important role in the actualization of a disaster is the capacity of the people. A simple formula
would explain how a hazard combined with the capacity of the people, and their vulnerability
may lead to a risk.
H*V/C= R
H = Hazard : Potential threat to humans and their welfare
V = Vulnerability : Susceptibility to loss of life or dignity
C = Capacity : Available and potential resources
R = Risk : Probability of occurrence of disaster
A hazard combined with vulnerability and based on the capacity of a community will determine
the risk. There is an inverse relation between vulnerability and capacity. The higher the
vulnerability and lower the capacity of the community the greater the risk and vice versa. The
realization of a risk is a disaster.
Cycle of Disaster
International Frameworks
The World Joins Hands against Disaster
1) Hyogo Framework of Action
The United Nations (UN) International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) 1990-
1999 started a Global trend of working as one towards reducing the risk that millions faced from
natural disasters. Its success resulted in the creation of the International Strategy for Disaster
Reduction (ISDR) In January 2005, 168 governments adopted the Hyogo Framework of Action
at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. The Framework is
a 10 year plan, which outlines a framework that the countries can use to create systems to reduce
the vulnerability of people to disasters.
The 5 priorities for Action in the Framework are
1) Make Disaster risk reduction a priority
Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority with a strong institutional
basis for implementation.
The key to this is making it a collaborative effort, not a competitive one.
For example: Madagascar’s National Platform for Disaster Reduction includes a range of
Government departments, such as Education, Water, Transport & Communication,
Agriculture and Livestock, Land, the Office of the Prime Minister; NGOs; the media; the
donor community; and the UN.
2) Know the Risks & Take action
Identify, assess, and monitor disaster risks - and enhance early warning.
For example: Cuba is one of the best-prepared countries in the Caribbean for the hurricane
season. 72 hours before a storm makes landfall, the national media issues alerts, and civil
protection committees check evacuation plans. 48 hours before expected landfall, authorities
target warnings for high-risk areas. Twelve hours before landfall, homes are secured,
neighbor hoods are cleared of loose debris, and people are evacuated. This early warning
system has proven its effectiveness. During 2004, when Hurricane Charley hit, 70,000 houses
were severely damaged and four people were killed. When Hurricane Ivan struck the
following month, over 2 million people were evacuated. No one was killed.
3) Building understanding and Awareness
Use knowledge, innovation, and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all
levels.
For example: On the island of Simeulue, off the coast of Sumatra, from a population of
83,000 people, only seven people died in the Indian Ocean tsunami. On the nearby mainland,
in Aceh, more than 100,000 people were killed. The people of Simeulue have maintained
their own local knowledge of earthquakes, which they call. Each generation teaches the early
warning signs of natural hazards to the next smong
4) Reduce Risks
Reduce the underlying risk factors.
For example: Unsafe buildings and the lack or non-enforcement of building codes often
cause more deaths than natural hazards themselves. In Bam, Iran, more than 30,000 people
were killed, and another 30,000 injured, when an earthquake struck the city on 26 December
2003. A major factor contributing to the high death toll was that traditional mud brick
buildings crumbled, suffocating the people inside. Practically all of the survivors were left
homeless, as 85 per cent of the city’s buildings collapsed.
5) Be Prepared & Ready to Act
Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels.
For example: On Disaster Prevention Day, held in Japan every year, many people all across
the country participate in disaster preparedness drills, involving both emergency workers and
the general public.
Standards to be adopted during disaster management
1. Humanitarian Charter
a. Principles
b. Roles & Responsibilities
c. Common Minimum Standards
2. Minimum Standards in Disaster Response
Humanitarian Charter
In 1997 over 400 Humanitarian NGOs in 80 countries and the Red Cross & Red Crescent
Movement framed the Humanitarian Charter and identified Minimum Standards to be achieved
in disaster assistance in 4 key sectors of a disaster:
1. Water Supply and Sanitation
2. Nutrition & Food Aid
3. Shelter
4. Health Services
The Humanitarian Charter is based upon the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross
and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief
and the Principles & Provisions of International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights
Law, and Refugee Law. It delineates Principles that should govern humanitarian action in the
situation of a natural or man-made disaster (including armed conflict).
It reaffirms Principles, Roles and Responsibilities of people who are engaged in field work for
disaster responses and Common Minimum Standards that should be adhered to in the five key
sectors.
Principles
The 3 principles that it reaffirms are:
1) Right to Life with Dignity
Understanding that every person has the right to a entail that his/her life is safe from harm and
also that other people have the duty to ensure the same.
2) The distinction between Combatant and Non-combatant
This principle impresses upon people in the field the need to distinguish between those actively
engaged in hostilities and those who are civilians, wounded, sick and prisoners who play no
direct part in the violence.
3) The Principle of non-refoulement
Reaffirming that no refugees will be sent back to their country unless, there is a guarantee of
their safety.
Roles & Responsibilities
This section outlines the understanding that the communities and governing bodies of the
country or state have important and crucial roles to play in any disaster. It also outlines the
realization that sometimes help offered by external agents (such as humanitarian organizations)
might lead to warring sides inflicting more harm on civilians and that such a situation should be
minimized, but simultaneously warring sides should respect humanitarian interventions.
Common Minimum Standards
It also outlines 8 common process standards along with their indicators.
1. Participation
2. Initial Assessment
3. Response
4. Targeting
5. Monitoring
6. Evaluation
7. Aid worker’s competencies and responsibilities
8. Supervision, Management & Support of Personnel
Setting standards are based on two core beliefs: first, that all possible steps should be taken to
alleviate human suffering arising out of calamity and conflict, and second, that those affected by
disaster have a right to life with dignity and therefore a right to assistance.
Minimum Standards in Disaster Response
Each country has created its minimum standards based on the context of the country and
experience, but using the guidelines given in the handbook.
Different Approaches to study Disaster
Disasters in earlier times used to be believed to be punishment God upon people because of their
wrong doings. According to some it was nature’s revenge that could cause loss of life and throw
a spoke in the wheel of normalcy. But whether it was looked upon as a punishment or nature
acting as a balance beam, it has fascinated people. Researchers have been trying to study the
impacts and causes of disasters and even create the ideal situation where they could predict them.
There have been different approaches that have been used by social scientists to study disasters.
Six approaches were identified-
1) Geographical approach
This was pioneered by Barrows, 1923 and White, 1945 and deals with the human ecological
adaptation to the environment with special emphasis on the ‘spatio-temporal’ (of or relating to
space and time together) distribution of hazard impacts, vulnerability and people’s choice and
adjustment to natural hazards.
2) Anthropological approach
It emphasizes the role of disasters in guiding the socio-economic evolution of populations
(OliverSmith, 1979, 1986; Hansen and Oliver-Smith, 1982).
3) Sociological approach
This approach discusses vulnerability and the impact of disaster upon patterns of human
behaviour and the effects of disaster upon community functions and organization. (Dynes, 1970;
Qurantelli, 1978; Mileti, Drabek and Haas, 1975; Drabek and Boggs, 1968; Drabek, 1986)
4) Development studies approach
It highlights the problems of distributing aid and relief to developing countries and focuses on
refugee management, health care and the avoidance of starvation. (Davis, 1978; Knott, 1987)
5) Disaster medicine and Epidemiology approach
The approach focuses on the management of mass casualties. It also includes the treatment of
severe physical trauma and other diseases which may occur after a disaster. (Beinin, 1985)
6) Technical approach
It focuses on geophysical approaches to disaster such as studied in seismology, geomorphology
and volcanology and seeks engineering solutions. (Bolt et al. 1977; El-Sabh and Murty, 1988)
The issues of gender were mostly overlooked but today have become a core part of
understanding the impacts of a disaster.
The Concept of Risk
1) an unwanted event which may or may not occur.
2) the cause of an unwanted event which may or may not occur.
3) the probability of an unwanted event which may or may not occur
4) the statistical expectation value of unwanted events which may or may not occur.
5) the fact that a decision is made under conditions of known probabilities (“decision
under risk”)
so, risk = probability × disutility
When we evaluate a risk, therefore, we take into account two factors - the probability of
something happening that we don't want, and the consequences if it does. So whether we choose
to accept or decline a risk depends on the mix of two factors: probability and consequence
Vulnerability and Risk
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, arising from various physical, social, economic, and environmental factors.
Examples may include:
poor design and construction of buildings,
inadequate protection of assets,
lack of public information and awareness,
limited official recognition of risks and preparedness measures, and
disregard for wise environmental management.
Vulnerability varies significantly within a community and over time. This definition identifies
vulnerability as a characteristic of the element of interest (community, system or asset) which is
independent of its exposure. However, in common use the word is often used more broadly to
include the element’s exposure.
The above explanation was taken from the United Nations (UN) International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction.
There are four (4) main types of vulnerability:
1. 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).
Example: Wooden homes are less likely to collapse in an earthquake, but are more vulnerable to
fire.
2. 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 well being 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).
Example: When flooding occurs some citizens, such as children, elderly and differently-able,
may be unable to protect themselves or evacuate if necessary.
3. Economic Vulnerability. The level of vulnerability is highly dependent upon the economic
status of 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.
Example: Poorer families may live in squatter settlements because they cannot afford to live in
safer (more expensive) areas.
4. Environmental Vulnerability. Natural resource depletion and resource degradation are key
aspects of environmental vulnerability.
Example: Wetlands, such as the Caroni Swamp, are sensitive to increasing salinity from sea
water, and pollution from stormwater runoff containing agricultural chemicals, eroded soils, etc.
Risk (or more specifically, disaster risk) is the potential disaster losses (in terms of lives, health
status, livelihoods, assets and services) which could occur to a particular community or a society
over some specified future time period. (Reference UNISDR Terminology)
It considers the probability of harmful consequences, or expected losses (deaths, injuries,
property, livelihoods, economic activity disrupted or environmentally damaged) resulting from
interactions between natural or human induced hazards and vulnerable conditions.
Risk can be calculated using the following equation: Risk = Probability of Hazard x Degree of
Vulnerability.
There are different ways of dealing with risk, such as:
Risk Acceptance: an informed decision to accept the possible consequences and likelihood of a
particular risk.
Risk Avoidance: an informed decision to avoid involvement in activities leading to risk
realization.
Risk Reduction refers to the application of appropriate techniques to reduce the likelihood of
risk occurrence and its consequences.
Risk Transfer involves shifting of the burden of risk to another party. One of the most common
forms of risk transfer is Insurance.
Before steps can be taken to reduce risk and vulnerability, they must first be understood.
Vulnerability assessments and risk analyses allow for the identification of areas of critical
concern and help to guide mitigation efforts. There are a variety of methods by which these
assessments can be conducted and organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration have even developed their own tools to aid this process:
Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Tool
Community Vulnerability Assessment Tool
Levels of Disasters
The levels of disasters have been categorized and disseminated as L0, L1, L2 and L3, based on
the ability of various authorities to deal with them. Various colour codes relating to the level of
alerts have also been assimilated.
L0 denotes normal times which are expected to be utilised for close monitoring,
documentation, prevention, mitigation and preparatory activities. This is the planning
stage where plans at all levels from community to the State shall be put in place. Training
on search and rescue, rehearsals, evaluation and inventory updation for response
activities will be carried out during this time.
L1 specifies disasters that can be managed at the district level, however, the state and
centre will remain in readiness to provide assistance if needed.
L2 specifies disaster situations that may require assistance and active participation of the
state, and the mobilisation of resources at the state level.
L3 disaster situations arise from largescale disasters where districts and the state may not
have the capacity to respond adequately and require assistance from the central
government for reinstating the state and district machinery.
Even though there cannot be watertight compartmentalization of responsibilities between states
and the centre, especially in the case of man-made disasters, the participation by the Centre will
normally be at the L3 level.
Natural Phenomena, Hazards, and Disasters
One of the first things to understand when working with natural disasters is the difference
between natural phenomena, natural hazards, and natural disasters.
Natural phenomena are physical events which are generally separated into categories such as
atmospheric, geologic, and hydrologic phenomena, as well as other categories and sub-
categories. Well-known examples of natural phenomena include hurricanes, earthquakes,
floods. Less common examples include debris flows, waterspouts, and insect plagues. Natural
phenomena are simply events; there is no implication about an event’s relation to humans. The
concept includes events with potentially minimal immediate risk to humans such as fog or a solar
eclipse. Defining individual phenomena can be tricky, because a single phenomena may trigger
several different natural phenomena. For example, a storm may trigger flash flooding, strong
winds, fires, hail, or other events.
Natural hazard is often treated as a synonym for natural phenomenon. However, the phrase
“natural hazard” usually includes an implication that the natural phenomenon under discussion
has the potential to cause damage to humans, human structures, or human activities. In this
sense, one could view natural hazards as a poorly-defined subset of “potentially dangerous”
natural phenomena. Some texts (ex. “Natural Disasters” by Patrick L. Abbott) refer to natural
hazards as measuring the probability of the occurrence of a dangerous event, rather than referring
to a subset of phenomena. This usage of the term is uncommon.
Natural disaster refers to an event which had a “major” impact on humans, and in that sense is a
subset of natural hazards, and in turn a subset of natural phenomena. It is widely agreed that a
natural hazard of a given magnitude is not necessarily a natural disaster. The line separating
natural disasters from natural hazards is purely a function of damages to people or human
infrastructure. However, there is no commonly agreed upon definition precisely separating
natural hazards from natural disasters.
So each term is a subset of the term before, but the boundaries are unclear. A small dust devil in
an unpopulated desert is a natural phenomenon, but is unlikely to be regarded as a natural
hazard. A earthquake which causes no damage beyond knocking over a few bookshelf items is a
natural phenomenon and possibly a natural hazard, but certainly not a natural disaster. A flash
flood, landslide, or avalanche which occurs in an unpopulated region, causing no damage to
humans or structures, is a relatively clear example of a natural hazard but not a natural disaster.
A drought in which tens of thousands of individuals leave their homes and hundreds die of
starvation is widely agreed to be a natural disaster, in addition to being a natural phenomenon
and natural hazard.
Major Disasters in India (last 40 years)
• Moving away from the Great Bengal famine of 1769-1770 in which a third of the
population perished.
• The Chalisa famine of 1783, the Doji Bara or Skull famine of 1790 to 1792, the North
West Provinces famine of 1838, the North West India Famine of 1861, the Bengal and
Orissa famine of 1866, the Rajputana famine of 1869, the famine of 1899 to 1901, the
Bengal famine of 1943…
• The drought years of 1965, 1972, 1979, 1987, 2002
• 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy
• 2001 Gujarat earthquake
• 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
• 2008 Mumbai attacks
S.N Event Year State & Area Effects
1 Drought 1972 Large part of country
200 million affected
2 Cyclone 1977 Andhra Pradesh 10,000 people & 40,000 cattle died
3 Drought 1987 15 states 300 million affected
4 Cyclone 1990 Andhra Pradesh 967 died. 435,000 acres land affected
5 Earthquake 1993 Latur, Maharashtra
7,928 people died.30,000 injured
6 Cyclone 1996 Andhra Pradesh 1000 people died.5,80,000
houses destroyed
7 Super cyclone 1999 Orissa Over 10,000 deaths
8 Earthquake 2001 Bhuj,Gujrat 13,805 deaths,6.3 millions affected
10 Floods July 2005 Maharashtra1094 deaths
167 injured, 54 missing
11 Earthquake 2008 Kashmir 1400 deaths
12 Kosi floods 2008 North Bihar 527 deaths,19,323 cattle died
13 Cyclone 2008 Tamilnadu 204 deaths
14 Krishna floods 2009 Andhrapradesh & Karnataka 300 died
15 Flash flood June 2013 Uttarakhand 5,700 deaths,70,000 affected
16 Phailin Cyclone Oct 2013 Coastline of Orissa, Jharkhand
27 died, 10,00,000 evacuations
India’s Vulnerability to Disasters
• 57% land is vulnerable to earthquakes. Of these, 12% is vulnerable to severe earthquakes.
• 68% land is vulnerable to drought.
• 12% land is vulnerable to floods.
• 8% land is vulnerable to cyclones.
• Apart from natural disasters, some cities in India are also vulnerable to chemical and
industrial disasters and man-made disasters.
Nodal Agencies for Disaster Management
• Floods : Ministry of Water Resources, CWC
• Cyclones : Indian Meteorological Department
1. Earthquakes : Indian Meteorological Department
• Epidemics : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Avian Flu: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and
Animal Husbandry
• Chemical Disasters : Ministry of Environment and Forests
• Industrial Disasters : Ministry of Labour
• Rail Accidents : Ministry of Railways
• Air Accidents : Ministry of Civil Aviation
• Fire : Ministry of Home Affairs
• Nuclear Incidents : Department of Atomic Energy
• Mine Disasters : Department of Mines
New Directions for Disaster Management in India
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been set up as the apex body
for Disaster Management in India, with the Prime Minister as its Chairman.
• Disaster Management Authorities will be set up at the State and District Levels to be
headed by the Chief Ministers and Collectors/Zilla Parishad Chairmen respectively.
• A National Disaster Mitigation Fund will be administerd by NDMA. States and districts
will administer mitigation funds.
• A National Disaster Response Fund will be administerd by NDMA through the National
Executive Committee. States and Districts will administer state Disaster Response Fund
and Disaster Response Fund respectively.
• 8 Battalions of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are being trained and deployed
with CSSR and MFR equipments and tools in eight strategic locations.
• A National Disaster Management Policy and National Disaster Response Plan will also
be drawn up.
Major Losses in India due to Disasters ( 2001-2013)
Year Lives Lost Cattle Lost Houses damaged
Cropped area affected (in lakh Ha)
2001-02 834 21,269 3,46,878 18.72
2002-03 898 3,729 4,62,700 21.00
2003-04 1,992 25,393 6,82,209 31.98
2004-05 1,995 12,389 16,03,300 32.53
2005-06 2,698 1,10,997 21,20,012 35.52
2006-07 2,402 4,55,619 19,34,680 70.87
2007-08 3,764 1,19,218 35,27,041 85.13
2008-09 3,405 53,833 16,46,905 35.56
2009-10 1,677 1,28,452 13,59,726 47.13
2010-11 2,310 48,778 13,38,619 46.25
2011-12 1,600 9,126 8,76,168 18.87
2012-13 984 24,360 6,71,761 15.34
2013-14 5,677 1,02,998 12,10,227 63.74
Types of Disaster
Natural Disasters
Man-made Disasters
Meteorological Disasters
FloodsTsunamiCycloneHurricaneTyphoonSnow stormBlizzardHail storm
Topographical Disasters
EarthquakeVolcanic Eruptions Landslides and AvalanchesAsteroids Limnic eruptions
Environmental Disasters
Global warmingEl Niño-Southern Oscillation Ozone depletion- UVB RadiationSolar flare
Technological
Transport failure Public place failure Fire
Industrial
Chemical spillsRadioactive spills
Warfare
WarTerrorismInternal conflictsCivil unrestCBRNE