History of Disasters in India

Nagaraju. C

Resource Person

NIUM

Disaster Management

Meaning of Disaster:

Types of Disasters:

Cycle of Disasters :

History of Disasters:

Impact of Disaster :

DISASTER

Disaster is a severe

disruption of

ecological and

psycho social

situation which

greatly exceeds the

coping capacity of

the affected

community.

WHO, 1992

4

5

Key Elements of Disaster

Hazard

Disaster

(Eg., Cyclone

killing 1000

people)

Vulnerability

(Eg- SC/ST, Pregnant women, children etc.,)

Risk

( Eg., Estimated human loss, injury, property)

Capacity Building

(E.g., Human Resource dev. Institutional Dev, Institutional and legal framework dev.)

()

Earthquake Drought Accidents Fire

Cyclone Tsunami Industrial Disaster Dam Bursts

Flood Hailstorm Riots Terrorism

Heatwave Forest Fire Hijacking Chemical Warfare

Biological Warfare Nuclear Warfare

Epidemics

Natural Disasters Manmade Disasters

7

37%

34%40%

44%

9

A CYCLONIC STORM AS SEEN FROM A HIGH LEVEL (GEO

STATIONERY) SATELLITE

10

A CYCLONIC STORM AS SEEN FROM A LOW LEVEL

(POLAR ORBITING) SATELLITE

11

A VERTICAL CROSS SECTION OF A CYCLONIC STORM

1990 MAY CYCLONIC STORM AS SEEN ON

MACHILIPATNAM RADAR SCREEN

9th October 2006

"Natural Disasters & Preparedness" by

Y.K.Reddy 13

Some Indian Experiences(1981)

Bangalore Circus Fire Tragedy (1981)

Death of children was very high.

Accidental fire in a circus tent during a shows -70 Children Killed.

High Emotional Stress & Morbidity.

Mental Health professional reach out to the families: (learning) People in distress need to be supported at

their door step.

Survivors tend to adapt negative coping

The people received the Care showed improvement in their life style, coping and adaptability.

Bhopal gas Disaster (1984)

December -1984.

Over 2000 Dead immediately after the Event.

Over 7,00,000 Population affected.

Increased Morbidity -268/1000 vs 117/1000.

47% continuously ill at 5 years follow–up.

Long term study shows:

People tend to express the psychological problem in terms of physical health reactions.

In long term psychological issues become permanent physical health problems.

Support need to provided at community.

The people with distress need time and some one to listen to them.

Almost every family like the one in the picture has victims who have been physical damage for life.

Marathwada Earthquake (1993)

Over 8000 dead during acute Phase, 14000 injured.

Overall 34% of the population had psychological distress.

Individual and group counselling provided to the survivors.

Systemic evaluation study was conducted in the disaster sits.

The approach was more focus on the injured, people with higher distress due to death in family.

The at-risk group showed improvement and expressed the need of initiating the psychosocial support.

Fire in School Function Dabwall

Haryana December 23 1995. Life Loss : 442,

< 3 yrs-26

Students -222

Women- 150

Men - 44

Orissa Super Cyclone (1999)

20,000 Killed & 15 million affected. Psychological distress – 45%

The community volunteers are most important resources.

They need a capacity building that help them to understand the stress reaction and deal with same

Community have higher trust while support is from their own people.

Community develop ownership over their recovery and take active part.

Gujarat Earthquake Jan (2001)

On 26 January, India's 52nd Republic Day, at 08:46 AM IST and lasted for over 2 minutes.

Killed 20,000 people and absolutely destroyed the structure.

Over 1500 with Sever Disabilities. 971 Children 31 teachers 11,761 School buildings 36, 584 Class Rooms 40,000 children and 17,000 Teachers . Special program for the widowed women,

disabled, orphan/semi-orphan children. People wanted support that involve them

and take care of their views. People work for their best interest while

their capacities are recognized.

Gujarat Riots Feb (2002) Two communities attacked and ended in

killing 2000 people.

58 Persons torched alive in a bogey of Sabarmathi Exp.

24 districts were engulfed in mass violence and physical attacks.

Stray violence continued till May 2002.

Estimated trauma in the population were projected to be between 33% and 90% during violence.

Camp continued for long (6-11 months)

People were scared to go back to their home.

Learning;

Creating a feeling of safety and security ensures well-being

People with distress need various support from different organizations (education, health, Social welfare)

South Indian Tsunami (2004)

A wide psychosocial response by different organizations.

In India at least 7 different international organizations implemented/ing Psychosocial Support Project.

Various community based psychosocial activities are implemented.

A wide scale capacity building activities are carried out at the grass-root levels.

This disaster caused nation-wide response at the policy level and administration.

Kashmir Earthquake (2005)

Following the earthquake various organizations responded to the situation.

The Government Department staffs and field personnel of Social Welfare, Education and Health were trained on Psychosocial care and provided wide scale services to the affected areas.

MSF and Action Aid International worked on psychosocial support.

Long term response is planed with Government to build the mental health skills among the health professionals.

Chardam Yatra- Uttarakhand(2013)

caused devastating floods and

landslides in the country's worst

natural disaster.

As of 16 July 2013 according to

figures provided by the

Uttarakhand government, more

than 10,000 people were

"presumed dead."

Over 70,000 people were stuck

in various regions because of

damaged or blocked roads.

PHAILIN Super Cyclone (2013)

CYCLONE

PHAILIN,

Crop and

Livestock Losses,

358 villages in

Srikakulam,

Nearly 130,000

people evacuated.

LEHAR Super Cyclone (2013)

6 lives loss.

Crop and

Livestock Losses.

Gas Burning

Mass Burial Tsunami 2004