Systemic Causes of Urban Flooding in India
Context As India approaches the tipping point of transitioning from a predominantly rural to an urban society, urbanisation is inextricably linked to development and is frequently a major driver of economic growth. By 2030, urban areas are expected to house 40.76% of the country’s population. However, urban planning machinery has not kept pace with urbanisation […]
Drought Looming Over Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar
Context Never in the last 122 years have Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand experienced such low monsoon rainfall. The administration is finalising contingency plans as farmers in both states wait for a good spell to begin sowing. Food and water scarcity will be major issues in the country’s major rice producing states, potentially affecting India’s kharif […]
What are Landslides?
Context: Eight people were killed in a massive landslip in Manipur. As many as 45 are feared to be trapped in the debris. The disaster took place in Noney district destroying a railway construction camp near Tupul. Relevance: GS III- Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: What are Landslides? Two Primary varieties of Landslides in […]
Pre-Monsoon Devastation in Assam
Context: While the Monsoons are yet to arrive, Assam has already been beset by Floods and Landslides that have left 15 people dead and more than 7 lakh affected. The hill district of Dima Hasao, in particular, has been ravaged by flash floods and landslides, with connectivity to the rest of the state snapped. Relevance: GS […]
National Disaster Management Authority
Focus: GS III- Disaster Management Why in News? Recently, The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) organised a one-day Consultative workshop for ‘Forest Fire Management in India’ in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) National Disaster Management Authority, abbreviated as NDMA, is an apex Body of Government […]
Entering Another Covid Year, R-value Over 1 in big cities
Context: In terms of daily detections of Covid-19 cases, India on the last day of 2021 finds itself in a situation similar to the one in 2020. And yet, the situation in India today is very different from what it was a year ago. Although the government has not described it as such, there are […]
Disaster damage: 2021 6th year with loss over $100 billion
Context: India witnessed two climate events in 2021 which caused financial losses worth more than $1 billion each, apart from the loss of lives. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster and Management (Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters, Disaster Management in India), GS-III: Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: Highlights of increased disasters CEEW Study on Extreme Weather Events […]
Disasters in Western Ghats
Context: Flash floods and landslides in the aftermath of heavy rains in the hilly regions of the Western Ghats in central Kerala districts of Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta has resulted in the loss of lives and property. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster and Management (Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters, Disaster Management in India), GS-I: Geography (Important Geophysical phenomena) […]
NGRI proposes landslip warning system
Context: The Council of Scientific And Industrial Research -National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI) has launched an ‘Environmental Seismology’ group to develop a ‘Landslide and Flood Early Warning System’ for the Himalayan region. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster and Management (Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters, Disaster Management in India), GS-I: Geography (Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-III: Science and Technology Dimensions […]
India, Nepal: Flood management cannot be watered down
Context: Over the years, many of Bihar’s districts have been facing serious challenges with recurrent and massive flooding. Even in 2021 it has been a double whammy — of flooding and the novel coronavirus pandemic. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster and Management (Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters, Disaster Management in India), GS-I: Geography (Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-II: International […]