Focus: GS-III Disaster Managment
Why in news?
The monsoon has unleashed its fury in eight states causing more than 470 deaths due to floods and landslides, with the highest toll being recorded in West Bengal, Assam and Gujarat.
Details
- The calamity of Floods and Landslides in 8 states has resulted in deployment of at least 70 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for rescue and relief.
- In the current monsoon season, West Bengal has reported the highest flood-related deaths followed by Assam and Gujarat.
- In view of the outbreak of Covid pandemic, it is becoming increasingly challenging to maintain social distancing at relief camps.
- The UN office for disaster risk reduction (UNDRR) estimates that more than 26 million people globally are pushed into poverty every year as a result of climate change events.
- The Centre and states must prioritise disaster risk reduction as disasters are making India’s development highly risky and skewed with rising inequality.
The major causes of floods in India are:
- Meteorological Factors: Heavy rainfall; Tropical Cyclones; Cloud Burst.
- Physical Factors: Large Catchment Area; Inadequate Drainage Arrangement.
- Human Factors: Deforestation; Siltation; Faulty Agricultural Practices; Bursting of Dams; Accelerated Urbanisation.
Click Here to read more about the National Disaster Response Force
-Source: Times of India
