Major Disasters in India — Set 12
Disaster Management · भारत में प्रमुख आपदाएं · Questions 111–120 of 160
What was the approximate economic damage caused by the 2018 Kerala Floods?
Correct Answer: C. Rs 31,000 crore
The 2018 Kerala Floods caused economic damage estimated at over Rs 31,000 crore (approximately $4.4 billion), devastating the state's agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism sectors. The floods damaged or destroyed over 10,000 km of roads and caused massive agricultural losses across all 14 districts. The Kerala government launched a 'Rebuild Kerala' initiative for post-flood reconstruction and rehabilitation.
In which year did the devastating Kedarnath disaster occur in Uttarakhand?
Correct Answer: C. 2013
The devastating Kedarnath disaster occurred in June 2013, specifically on June 16-17, 2013 when extreme rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides in the area. The disaster struck during the peak pilgrimage season when thousands of Hindu pilgrims were visiting the Kedarnath shrine. The disaster killed approximately 6,000 people with many more missing and presumed dead.
What is the primary reason Uttarakhand is particularly vulnerable to flash floods and landslides?
Correct Answer: B. Steep Himalayan terrain combined with heavy monsoon and fragile geology
Uttarakhand is particularly vulnerable to flash floods and landslides due to the combination of steep Himalayan terrain with fragile geology, heavy monsoon rainfall, presence of glacial lakes, and seismic activity. The young Himalayan mountains are geologically unstable and prone to erosion. Human activities including deforestation, road construction, and construction of hydropower projects on fragile slopes have significantly increased the state's disaster vulnerability.
The Cyclone Fani evacuation of 2019 is considered a success story. Approximately how many people were evacuated?
Correct Answer: C. 12 lakhs
The correct answer is '12 lakhs'. Approximately 12 lakh (1.2 million) people were evacuated from coastal Odisha before Cyclone Fani made landfall on May 3, 2019. Despite being an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm with winds of 175-185 km/h, only about 64 people died, compared to 10,000 in the 1999 Super Cyclone of similar intensity. The Fani evacuation is internationally cited as one of the most successful disaster evacuations in history.
The 1993 Latur earthquake struck at what time in the morning?
Correct Answer: C. 3:56 AM
The 1993 Latur earthquake struck at 3:56 AM on September 30, 1993 when most people were asleep. The pre-dawn timing meant that most victims were trapped inside their homes when buildings collapsed. The stone-and-mud construction prevalent in the Marathwada region proved completely inadequate to withstand even a moderate earthquake and contributed to the extremely high death toll.
The Bhuj Earthquake of 2001 triggered a landmark change in which policy area?
Correct Answer: B. Building codes and earthquake-resistant construction
The Bhuj Earthquake of 2001 triggered landmark changes in India's building codes and earthquake-resistant construction standards. The Bureau of Indian Standards updated the IS 1893 earthquake engineering code, and states began mandating earthquake-resistant design for new buildings in seismic zones. The disaster led to widespread adoption of seismically resistant construction practices, particularly in high-risk Zone IV and Zone V areas.
The 2005 Mumbai floods occurred on which specific date that is now remembered as a disaster anniversary?
Correct Answer: B. July 26, 2005
The 2005 Mumbai floods occurred on July 26, 2005, when the city received 944mm of rainfall in a single day. July 26 is remembered as a disaster anniversary and has been the occasion for reviews of Mumbai's urban flood preparedness and drainage infrastructure. The disaster killed over 1,094 people and exposed the vulnerability of India's financial capital to extreme weather events.
Which Indian river is known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar' due to frequent devastating floods?
Correct Answer: C. Kosi
The Kosi River is known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar' due to the frequent devastating floods it causes in the Bihar plains. The Kosi originates in Nepal, carries enormous quantities of sediment from the Himalayas, and has historically changed its course multiple times, causing widespread flooding. In 2008, a breach in the Kosi embankment in Nepal caused one of the worst floods Bihar has seen in recent decades, displacing over 3 million people.
The super cyclone that hit Odisha in 1999 had an approximate category equivalent to which Atlantic/Pacific hurricane category?
Correct Answer: D. Category 5
The 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone was equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic/Pacific hurricane classification scale, the highest possible category. Its maximum sustained wind speeds of over 260 km/h and massive storm surge placed it at the extreme end of the tropical cyclone intensity scale. In the North Indian Ocean cyclone classification system used by IMD, it was classified as a 'Super Cyclonic Storm'.
Which government body is primarily responsible for flood management and forecasting in India?
Correct Answer: C. CWC (Central Water Commission)
The Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti is the primary government body responsible for flood management, flood forecasting, and flood control in India. CWC maintains a network of flood forecasting stations across major river basins. CWC works in coordination with IMD for weather-based flood forecasting and issues flood warnings for river basins during the monsoon season.