GSI: Chamoli disaster caused by avalanche
Context: The Geological Survey of India said that the flash flood (February 2021) in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand was due to large mass of snow, ice and rock avalanche along with a hanging mass of rock crashing into the Raunthi Garh valley floor. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster Management, GS-I: Geography (Physical Geography, Important Geophysical Phenomena), Dimensions of […]
Invoking DM Act in notice for WB Chief Secretary
Context: Before he retired, former Chief Secretary of West Bengal Alapan Bandyopadhyay was served a show cause notice by the Union Home Ministry under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster Management (Government Policies & Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: About the recent notice served to the WB Chief Secretary Disaster Management Act, 2005 […]
Ripples from Cyclones and tides in Sunderbans
Context: Over just the past three years from 2018-2021, the Sunderbans, which is home to close to five million people, has been battered by four tropical cyclones — Fani (May 2019), Bulbul (November 2019), Amphan (May 2020) and Yaas (May 2021). On each occasion, the region has suffered damage because of gale winds and breached […]
Weathering storms: On disaster response
Context: India’s capacity to withstand multiple, near-simultaneous shocks is being tested, with a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, Yaas, striking Odisha, just a week after an even stronger Cyclone Tauktae wreaked havoc along the west coast. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster Management (Disaster Financing) Dimensions of the Article: About India’s Vulnerability to disasters National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) […]
Mount Nyaragongo eruption
Context: An active volcano in Congo, Mount Nyaragongo, erupted again. The Indian Army contingent under the United Nations peace keeping mission (MONUSCO) assisted in protecting civilians and U.N. officials as well as assets during the evacuation. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography, Volcanoes, Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-III: Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: Mount Nyiragongo Stratovolcano […]
Cyclone Yaas, Increasing Tropical Cyclones
Context: Cyclone Tauktae that was the first Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm in the Arabian Sea to make landfall in Gujarat in 130 years. In less than a few days after the landfall of Tauktae, there is a possible cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal called Yaas. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography – Climatology, Important […]
Cyclone ‘Tauktae’
Context: Tauktae – an ‘Extremely severe cyclonic storm’ moved north-northwestwards and hit the Gujarat Coast with maximum wind speeds gusting up to 185 – 210 km/h. Along the cyclone’s path, several people died in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka due to electrocution and wall collapse. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography – Climatology, Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-III: […]
Centre releases first instalment of SDRF
Context: Even though usually the first instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is released in June as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission – the Centre has released the first instalment to States earlier this time, in the wake of the second wave of COVID-19 that has claimed thousands of lives since […]
Oxygen Crisis: Oxygen Shortage in India explained for UPSC
Context: Oxygen Crisis in India – Oxygen Shortage for Covid-19 patients treatment There are serious calls to address the Oxygen Crisis in India due to shortage of Oxygen as infected patients of the second wave of Covid-19 are left gasping for breath as hospitals in some states are operating on the edge due to a […]
Fires rage on in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai
Context: Recently, Mizoram Minister of State (Forest and Environment) said that fires were raging in some parts of Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district though they were almost under control in Lunglei, Serchhip and Hnahthial districts. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster Management (Forest Fires) Dimensions of the Article: Forest Survey of India (FSI) report on Forest Fires in India Causes […]