Major Disasters in India — Set 13
Disaster Management · भारत में प्रमुख आपदाएं · Questions 121–130 of 160
The 2004 Tsunami warning time available for India after the earthquake was approximately?
Correct Answer: C. 1-2 hours
The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami struck India approximately 1.5 to 2 hours after the Sumatra earthquake, which theoretically would have provided time for warning. However, India had no tsunami early warning system in 2004, and no alerts were issued to the coastal population. This tragic gap in preparedness directly contributed to the deaths of approximately 12,000 people in India and led to the immediate development of India's tsunami early warning infrastructure.
The Bhuj Earthquake of 2001 destroyed approximately how many buildings?
Correct Answer: C. 3,40,000
The Bhuj Earthquake of January 26, 2001 destroyed approximately 3,40,000 buildings and severely damaged another 8,44,000 across Gujarat. The scale of building destruction was unprecedented in India's post-independence history and left millions of people homeless in the middle of winter. The reconstruction effort took nearly a decade and involved complete rebuilding of towns and villages in Kutch district.
India's worst ever train disaster linked to floods occurred at Bagmati river in which year?
Correct Answer: A. 1981
India's worst ever train disaster occurred on June 6, 1981 when the Mansi-Saharsa rail link train plunged into the flooding Bagmati River near Samastipur, Bihar during a cyclone/flood event. The official death toll was around 268 but the actual number of deaths was estimated at 500-800 as most bodies were swept away in the flood. It remains one of the deadliest rail disasters in world history.
What is the primary reason Himachal Pradesh experiences frequent landslides?
Correct Answer: B. Heavy rainfall on steep slopes with weak rock formations and deforestation
Himachal Pradesh experiences frequent landslides due to the combination of heavy monsoon rainfall on steep Himalayan slopes with geologically weak rock formations, and accelerated by deforestation and construction activities. The Beas River valley, Kullu-Manali area, and NH-1 (Manali-Leh highway) are particularly prone to landslides every monsoon season. Climate change is intensifying monsoon rainfall in the region, increasing landslide frequency and intensity.
The 2014 J&K floods submerged which capital city for several days?
Correct Answer: B. Srinagar
The September 2014 Jammu & Kashmir floods submerged most of Srinagar under several feet of floodwater for days, paralyzing the summer capital of the state. The Jhelum River burst its banks and inundated residential, commercial, and government areas including the Srinagar airport. Approximately 280 people were killed and hundreds of thousands were rescued from rooftops and flooded buildings using boats and helicopters.
Annual losses from floods in India are estimated at approximately how many rupees per year?
Correct Answer: C. Rs 20,000 crore
Annual flood losses in India are estimated at approximately Rs 20,000 crore (approximately $2.5 billion) on average, including damage to crops, property, infrastructure, and public utilities. In severe flood years, the losses can be much higher. India loses approximately 1.1% of its GDP annually to flood-related disasters according to some estimates, making floods the most economically costly natural disaster type for India.
Which Himalayan state was worst affected by the Kedarnath floods of June 2013?
Correct Answer: C. Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand was the state worst affected by the Kedarnath floods of June 2013, with the Kedarnath valley, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Pithoragarh districts all experiencing catastrophic flooding, landslides, and loss of life. The state government declared it a national-level calamity. The disaster exposed serious inadequacies in Uttarakhand's disaster preparedness and the risks of unchecked development in fragile Himalayan terrain.
The chemical compound 'methyl isocyanate' that leaked at Bhopal is used in the manufacture of?
Correct Answer: C. Pesticides
Methyl isocyanate (MIC) is a key intermediate chemical used in the manufacture of pesticides, specifically carbamate insecticides. The UCIL plant in Bhopal was producing the pesticide Sevin (carbaryl) using MIC as an intermediate. MIC is an extremely reactive and toxic chemical that reacts violently with water and is lethal in even very small concentrations when inhaled.
The Brahmaputra River that causes Assam's floods originates in which country?
Correct Answer: C. China (Tibet)
The Brahmaputra River originates in China (Tibet) as the Yarlung Tsangpo River, entering India through Arunachal Pradesh and flowing through Assam before entering Bangladesh where it joins the Ganga (Padma). The upper catchment in Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh receives massive monsoon rainfall and snowmelt, which flows into Assam causing annual flooding. The trans-boundary nature of the Brahmaputra makes comprehensive flood management dependent on cooperation with China and Bangladesh.
The Latur Earthquake of 1993 damaged approximately how many villages?
Correct Answer: B. 52 villages (completely destroyed)
The Latur Earthquake of September 30, 1993 completely destroyed approximately 52 villages in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, particularly in Latur and Osmanabad districts. Over 30,000 people were injured and the earthquake left hundreds of thousands homeless. The disaster prompted a major reevaluation of seismic risk in the Deccan Plateau region of peninsular India, which was previously not considered highly earthquake-prone.