Disaster Management

Model Answer

Steps Taken by Littoral States

The littoral states of the Bay of Bengal—India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand—have made considerable progress in disaster preparedness, focusing on key strategies to mitigate natural disaster impacts.

1. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): The region has seen significant collaboration in HADR, with India playing a pivotal role through its “five-fold framework for maritime engagement” to support regional disaster management efforts.
2. Enhanced Disaster Preparedness: The establishment of early warning systems (EWS), strengthening of coastal defences, and disaster management exercises have improved the region’s preparedness. For example, the BIMSTEC Centre on Weather and Climate (BCWC) has been instrumental in addressing weather-related challenges.
3. Improved Coordination: Regional cooperation has been fostered, with India hosting two disaster management exercises under BIMSTEC to improve response strategies among member countries.

Challenges Limiting Effectiveness

Despite these efforts, the disaster preparedness in the Bay of Bengal region remains limited due to several constraints.

1. Lack of a Regional Security Agenda: There is no dedicated security agenda focusing on shared natural disaster vulnerabilities, which hinders a unified approach to disaster management.
2. Fragmented Approaches: While individual countries have made strides, the regional coordination and integration of efforts remain weak. The primary regional organization, BIMSTEC, struggles with financial constraints and limited operational capacity.
3. Inadequate Infrastructure: Many regions in the Bay of Bengal suffer from poor infrastructure, such as fragile housing and high population density, which exacerbates the effects of disasters. For instance, the lack of robust infrastructure contributes to significant casualties during disasters.
4. Limited Inter-State Knowledge Sharing: There is insufficient exchange of best practices among the littoral states. While Bangladesh has a renowned Cyclone Preparedness Programme, and Thailand has efficient last-mile tsunami warnings, these practices are not systematically adopted across the region.
5. Environmental and Climate Challenges: Environmental degradation, such as mangrove loss and coastal erosion, reduces the natural defences of the region, making it more vulnerable to disasters.

Conclusion

Despite substantial progress, a comprehensive, multi-state disaster relief authority could strengthen the region’s ability to effectively manage and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.

Model Answer

Introduction

Stampedes are tragic incidents resulting from a sudden, uncontrollable movement of people, often causing injuries or fatalities. The frequent occurrences of stampedes at public places in India can be attributed to several causes:

1. Structural Factors:
Temporary structures, such as barricades or makeshift bridges, often collapse under the pressure of large crowds. A prime example is the 2013 stampede near Ratangarh Mata Temple in Madhya Pradesh, where a collapsing bridge caused several deaths.

2. Fire Hazards:
Fires caused by short circuits or electricity failure create panic among large crowds, leading to a stampede. The Dabwali fire incident in Haryana (1995) serves as a tragic example, where 446 people lost their lives due to a fire-induced stampede.

3. Excessive Crowd:
Mass gatherings, particularly at religious events or political rallies, are a significant cause of stampedes. According to a study, 79% of stampedes in India between 1954 and 2012 occurred during religious mass gatherings, where crowd management becomes a significant challenge.

4. Lack of Coordination:
Inadequate coordination between different agencies, such as the police, administration, and fire services, exacerbates the risk of stampedes. This lack of coordination can result in delayed responses to crowd surges or emergency situations.

Measures to Prevent Stampedes

1. Better Design of Spaces for Mass Gatherings:
Designing spaces with multiple wide exits, fire safety systems, adequate ventilation, and crowd segregation can significantly reduce the risk of stampedes.

2. Live Crowd Surveillance:
Real-time monitoring of crowds using advanced technology, such as AI-based CCTV coverage and drones, can help detect pressure build-up and potential hazards. For example, during the 2024 Jagannath Rath Yatra, Odisha Police used AI-based surveillance to manage crowd density effectively.

3. Improved Communication and Coordination:
Establishing a clear communication system and allocating responsibilities among all agencies involved in crowd management can help prevent panic and ensure swift action during emergencies.

Conclusion

Preventing stampedes requires a multi-disciplinary approach, including better planning, design, and technological solutions. By addressing structural, coordination, and crowd-related issues, India can minimize the occurrence of these tragic events.

Model Answer

1. Unpredictability of Rainfall
   India experiences heavy and unpredictable torrential rains, especially in the hilly regions, making landslide prevention difficult. The timing and intensity of rainfall are hard to predict, which complicates mitigation efforts. For instance, recent landslides in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, highlighted the challenges posed by this unpredictability.
2. Fragility of Ecosystems
   The young, evolving mountains of the Himalayan region, where many landslides occur, have fragile ecosystems. These regions are prone to landslides due to sedimentary deposits rather than solid rock, making mitigation efforts challenging.
3. Proximity of Infrastructures to Landslide-Prone Areas
   Many major habitations and critical infrastructure are located near landslide-prone areas, which increases vulnerability. In Himachal Pradesh alone, there are 17,120 landslide-prone sites, with 675 near critical infrastructure.
4. Vague Recommendations in Current Management Maps
   Existing Landslide Susceptibility Management maps provide broad and generalized mitigation measures like “afforestation” without specifying which species of trees or plants to use or detailed biotechnical methods for slope stabilization.
5. Lack of Landslide Hazard Maps
   There is a lack of comprehensive, state-wise or district-wise landslide hazard zonation maps, making effective planning and strategizing for disaster management difficult.

Role of the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy

1. Landslide Hazard Zonation (LHZ) Maps
   The strategy aims to create detailed LHZ maps using advanced technology like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), terrestrial laser scanners, and high-resolution Earth Observation data. These maps will help in identifying and addressing high-risk zones.
2. Landslide Monitoring and Early Warning Systems
   The strategy emphasizes the development of monitoring systems, including rainfall thresholds, numerical weather prediction models, automatic rain gauges, and wireless sensor networks to provide early warnings.
3. Awareness Programs
   It includes designing awareness programs, reviewing past efforts, and identifying gaps to ensure communities and stakeholders are better prepared for landslide risks.
4. Capacity Building
   The strategy outlines the need for capacity building and training programs for stakeholders on landslide disaster risk reduction (DRR) using the latest technology.
5. Policy and Regulation Enhancements
   The strategy recommends updating building regulations, reviewing the BIS codes on landslide management, and revising town and country planning legislation to improve resilience in mountain zones.

By addressing these challenges and implementing the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy, India can improve landslide disaster preparedness and mitigation significantly.

Model Answer

Introduction

Heat Action Plans (HAPs) are designed by Indian authorities to protect vulnerable populations from the harmful effects of heat waves. Initiated in 2013 by Ahmedabad, these plans aim to provide targeted measures, including early warnings and resource mobilization, to safeguard people during extreme heat events.

Strengths of HAPs

• Wide Implementation: The Indian government has extended HAPs to 23 states and over 130 cities, incorporating localized plans for heat wave-prone regions.
• Public Awareness: Heat wave alerts are disseminated through various platforms, including mobile-based advisories and media campaigns, providing some level of public awareness.

Key Issues Impacting Effectiveness

1. Inadequate Vulnerability Identification: Many HAPs fail to identify vulnerable populations based on localized assessments. For instance, while Kerala recognized delivery agents and indoor workers as at risk, other regions did not address the needs of these groups (Centre for Policy Research).
2. Lack of Reliable Risk Assessments: Vulnerability and risk assessments are often missing or insufficient, leading to inefficient distribution of resources and delayed responses to heat waves. There is a lack of tailored interventions for workers, such as farm laborers, who are significantly affected.
3. Accessibility Challenges: While technological solutions like mobile-based heat advisories are introduced, there is little attention to accessibility issues. Mobile ownership and literacy rates, especially among women and vulnerable groups, are not adequately considered, reducing the reach of advisories.
4. Short-Term Focus: The current focus is mostly on short-term measures, such as adjusting school and work timings. Long-term solutions, such as encouraging adaptive agricultural practices or infrastructure changes, are rarely addressed.
5. Lack of Incentives: HAPs lack effective accountability and incentives for departments to act promptly. Though the plans outline responsibilities, there is insufficient pressure to ensure timely execution.

Conclusion

While HAPs are a critical initiative, their effectiveness is hindered by issues in vulnerability identification, accessibility, and long-term planning. A more holistic, participatory, and sustainable approach is required to ensure these plans are better equipped to combat increasing heat risks due to climate change.