Tragic Stampede in Hathras District Highlights Need for Improved Safety
Context: Recently, a tragic stampede in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district claimed over 100 lives. This devastating incident adds to a long list of similar tragedies that have occurred during religious gatherings and festivals across India over the past two decades. These events underscore the ongoing challenges of managing large crowds in confined spaces and highlight […]
Classifying a Prolonged Summer as a Natural Disaster
Context: Northern India has been enduring the longest series of heatwaves in the past 15 years. In some states, daytime temperatures have consistently exceeded 45°C, while in relatively cooler states, temperatures have been 3°-6°C higher than usual for this time of year. Night temperatures have also remained 3°-6°C above normal, due to the near-absence of moisture and […]
About Notified Disasters
Context: The ongoing spell of extreme heat in many parts of the country has once again reopened discussions on the inclusion of heatwaves as one of the notified disasters under the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005. Relevance: GS III: Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: About Notified Disasters: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Disaster Management […]
Cyclone Remal Triggers Fatal Incidents and Landslides in Northeast India
Context: Cyclone Remal recently struck the West Bengal coastline, leading to the deaths of six people in related incidents. In the Northeast, heavy rainfall caused by the cyclone triggered landslides in Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam, and Nagaland, resulting in at least 30 fatalities. The entire region, including Sikkim and northern West Bengal, is prone to landslides. […]
The Threat of Building Fires
Context: The catastrophic fires at a gaming center in Rajkot, Gujarat, and a newborn nursing clinic in Delhi, occurring within 24 hours of each other and resulting in over 30 fatalities, highlight a persistent issue in India: widespread negligence regarding building fire safety by various stakeholders, including builders, owners, and regulatory authorities. Relevance: Mains Question: […]
International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Context: Recently, The Prime Minister addressed the 6th edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Relevance: GS III: Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: About ICDRI Meeting Highlights Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) Growth Impact of Natural Disasters Importance of Resilient Infrastructure Shared Resilience in a Global Context Support for Vulnerable Regions […]
About The Kallakkadal
Context: Recent high sea waves, commonly referred to as swell waves or Kallakkadal in Malayalam, have caused extensive flooding in coastal areas of Kerala. Hundreds of houses in regions like Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram districts have been affected by these swell surges. The flooding highlights the vulnerability of Kerala’s coastal communities to natural events and […]
Floods and a ‘Preventive Measure’ that Needs Review
Context: Many days have passed since Cyclone Michuang swept through, yet the residents of Chennai continue to grapple with the repercussions of a series of decisions made for them or on their behalf by a multitude of individuals. It is imperative to scrutinize these decisions as they have yielded various consequences, some readily apparent while others remain […]
India’s Preparedness is Exemplary
Context: Cyclone Michaung struck Southern India, specifically Andhra Pradesh near Bapatla, on December 4, 2023, with winds reaching 100 kmph. Before making landfall, intense rainfall led to destructive flooding in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, resulting in at least nine fatalities. Relevance: Mains Question: From Tsunami of 2004 to the recent Cyclone Biparjoy, India has made remarkable progress […]
Emergency Alert Systems in India
Context: A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on November 3, 2023, accompanied by aftershocks, revealing notable deficiencies in emergency alert systems in and around Delhi. Relevance: GS III: Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: Emergency Alert Systems in India Google’s Android Earthquake Early Warning System Cell Broadcast Alert System (CBAS) Ministry of Earth Science’s National Centre […]