Major Disasters in India — Set 11

Correct Answer: D. Zone V

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are classified in Seismic Zone V, the highest and most severe seismic risk zone in India. This is because the islands sit along an active subduction zone where the Indo-Australian tectonic plate slides under the Eurasian plate, making them prone to frequent and powerful earthquakes. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami was triggered by a massive earthquake along this same subduction zone.

Correct Answer: B. 2013 Kedarnath disaster

The Chorabari (or Gandhi Sarovar) glacial lake outburst was associated with the 2013 Kedarnath disaster in Uttarakhand. Heavy rains caused the Chorabari glacier lake to overflow and release a massive torrent of water and debris that swept through the Kedarnath valley on June 16-17, 2013. This combined with landslides and flooding from the Mandakini River destroyed the entire area around Kedarnath temple.

Correct Answer: D. 14 districts (all)

All 14 districts of Kerala were put under Red Alert simultaneously during the 2018 Kerala Floods, which was an unprecedented situation in the state's history. The decision to place all districts on red alert reflected the extreme severity and geographic spread of the flooding. The Kerala State government, along with NDRF and Indian Navy, conducted one of the largest peacetime search and rescue operations in India.

Correct Answer: C. 1979

Morbi in Gujarat experienced the catastrophic Machu Dam-II failure on August 11, 1979 when the dam breached during severe monsoon flooding. The dam failure unleashed a devastating flood that destroyed most of Morbi town, killing an estimated 1,800-2,500 people officially but with some estimates suggesting much higher casualty figures. Morbi again made headlines in 2022 when a bridge collapse killed over 135 people.

Correct Answer: D. Odisha

Odisha has perhaps the highest combined risk from both seismic activity (Seismic Zone III and parts of Zone IV) and cyclones (Bay of Bengal cyclones make landfall most frequently on Odisha coast) among major Indian states. The state's coastal geography and river deltas make it extremely vulnerable to cyclone impacts including storm surge. The state's transformation into a cyclone preparedness model after 1999 has significantly reduced its vulnerability.

Correct Answer: C. 43

The Indian Air Force deployed approximately 43 helicopters for rescue and relief operations during the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, in one of the largest peacetime air operations in India's history. The helicopters evacuated over 19,600 people stranded in remote mountain areas. The operations were particularly challenging due to the mountainous terrain, unpredictable weather, and damaged landing zones.

Correct Answer: A. Bhopal Gas Tragedy 1984

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 was a major catalyst for India establishing the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to coordinate responses to national-scale disasters and emergencies. The inadequate government response to the Bhopal disaster exposed gaps in crisis management mechanisms. Subsequent disasters including Latur 1993 and Bhuj 2001 further strengthened the argument for a comprehensive disaster management framework, culminating in the Disaster Management Act 2005.

Correct Answer: C. Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu suffered over 8,000 deaths in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the highest death toll among Indian states. Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu was the most severely affected with entire fishing communities wiped out. The 2004 Tsunami fundamentally changed India's approach to coastal disaster management and led to the establishment of the Tsunami Early Warning Centre at INCOIS in Hyderabad.

Correct Answer: B. Solid soil behaving like liquid during strong shaking

Liquefaction is a phenomenon where water-saturated, loosely packed soil temporarily loses its strength and behaves like a liquid during strong earthquake shaking. Buildings and infrastructure on such soil can sink, tilt, or collapse even if the earthquake's ground shaking would not otherwise cause structural damage. The Bhuj earthquake area and many coastal regions near river deltas in India are susceptible to liquefaction during major earthquakes.

Correct Answer: C. Bhuj Earthquake 2001

The first comprehensive post-disaster recovery plan in India was developed after the Bhuj Earthquake of 2001, implemented by the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The recovery plan included building code reforms, seismic retrofitting programs, community-based disaster preparedness, and comprehensive rehabilitation of displaced communities. The Bhuj recovery is studied globally as a model for large-scale post-disaster reconstruction.