Major Disasters in India — Set 14
Disaster Management · भारत में प्रमुख आपदाएं · Questions 131–140 of 160
Which body of water did Cyclone Tauktae 2021 originate from?
Correct Answer: B. Arabian Sea
Cyclone Tauktae of May 2021 originated from the Arabian Sea, making it one of the most powerful Arabian Sea cyclones on record. It was named Tauktae (a type of gecko in Burmese) by Myanmar. The cyclone affected the west coast of India including Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat before making landfall near Una, Gujarat on May 17, 2021.
What does 'NDRF' stand for?
Correct Answer: B. National Disaster Response Force
NDRF stands for National Disaster Response Force, which is India's specialized paramilitary force for disaster response. Established under the Disaster Management Act 2005 and activated in 2006, NDRF has 16 battalions stationed across India. NDRF teams are the first responders in major national disasters and have been deployed in all significant disasters since their formation.
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy litigation in Indian courts continued for decades. The main accused Warren Anderson was the CEO of which company?
Correct Answer: B. Union Carbide Corporation (USA)
Warren Anderson was the Chairman and CEO of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), the American parent company of UCIL (the Indian subsidiary that owned the Bhopal plant). Anderson was declared a fugitive by Indian courts for evading trial and died in the USA in 2014 without ever facing prosecution in India. Dow Chemicals acquired Union Carbide Corporation in 2001 but maintained it was not responsible for Bhopal liabilities.
Which type of seismic wave arrives first at a seismograph after an earthquake?
Correct Answer: C. P-waves
P-waves (Primary or compressional waves) are the fastest seismic waves and arrive first at seismographs after an earthquake. P-waves travel through both solid rock and fluids and can travel through the Earth's core. S-waves (Secondary or shear waves) arrive next, followed by surface waves (Love and Rayleigh waves) which cause the most destruction despite arriving last.
The Yamuna River flooding that affects Delhi is primarily controlled by which dam?
Correct Answer: D. Hathnee Kund Barrage
Flooding of Delhi from the Yamuna River is primarily regulated by the Hathni Kund (Hathnee Kund) Barrage in Yamunanagar, Haryana. Water releases from this barrage during heavy rainfall in the Yamuna's upper catchment directly affect flood levels in Delhi approximately 2-3 days later. In July 2023, record water releases from Hathni Kund caused the worst Yamuna flooding in Delhi in decades.
The Tamil Nadu state coastal district which suffered the most deaths in the 2004 Tsunami was?
Correct Answer: C. Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu suffered the most deaths in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, with over 6,000 people killed in this single district alone. The low-lying coastal geography and dense fishing communities made Nagapattinam particularly vulnerable. The district's extensive fish market area and tourist spots like Velankanni were completely devastated by the tsunami waves.
The Indian government's relief operations in Uttarakhand 2013 were called?
Correct Answer: B. Operation Rahat
The Indian government's massive relief operations during the 2013 Uttarakhand floods were called 'Operation Rahat' (Rahat means relief in Hindi). Operation Rahat was one of the largest civilian rescue operations conducted by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force in India's history. During the operation, over 1,00,000 stranded people were rescued using helicopters, boats, and ground teams.
Which year was the worst for floods in India in the 21st century in terms of deaths?
Correct Answer: C. 2008
2008 was among the worst years for flood-related deaths in India in the 21st century, marked particularly by the catastrophic Kosi River embankment breach in Bihar that displaced over 3 million people, as well as severe floods in multiple other states. The Bihar floods of 2008 were a humanitarian crisis that required massive national and international assistance. Total flood deaths across India in 2008 numbered in the thousands.
The Kedarnath temple is located in which district of Uttarakhand?
Correct Answer: C. Rudraprayag
The Kedarnath temple is located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, in the upper Mandakini River valley at an altitude of approximately 3,584 meters above sea level. The 2013 Uttarakhand floods caused catastrophic destruction specifically in Rudraprayag and neighboring districts. The temple itself survived due to a large boulder that deflected the debris flow.
Which year saw the worst flooding in Delhi from the Yamuna River in recent decades?
Correct Answer: D. 2023
July 2023 saw the worst flooding of Delhi from the Yamuna River in over four decades, with the river crossing the all-time record water level at the Old Railway Bridge. The flooding was caused by record water releases from the Hathni Kund Barrage due to unprecedented rainfall in the upper Yamuna catchment. Large parts of central Delhi including the Civil Lines area and low-lying areas near the Yamuna were inundated.