Major Disasters in India — Set 2

Correct Answer: B. December 26, 2004

The Indian Ocean Tsunami occurred on December 26, 2004, which was also Boxing Day, earning it the name 'Boxing Day Tsunami' in some countries. The tsunami was triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. It affected 14 countries and killed over 2,27,898 people making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

Correct Answer: C. 14

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami affected 14 Indian states and Union Territories including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Pondicherry, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. India's death toll was approximately 12,405 people with thousands more missing. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands suffered extensive damage as they were closest to the earthquake epicenter.

Correct Answer: C. 12,000

Approximately 12,405 people died in India due to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, with Tamil Nadu being the worst affected Indian state. Thousands more were reported missing and presumed dead. The disaster highlighted India's lack of a tsunami early warning system, which was subsequently established under INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services).

Correct Answer: C. 10,000

The Odisha Super Cyclone of October 1999 killed approximately 10,000 people, making it one of the deadliest cyclones in Indian history. The cyclone made landfall near Paradip with wind speeds exceeding 260 km/h and a devastating storm surge. It caused massive damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and left millions homeless in Odisha.

Correct Answer: C. Paradip

The Odisha Super Cyclone of 1999 made landfall near Paradip on October 29, 1999, with catastrophic wind speeds and storm surge. The cyclone caused the death of approximately 10,000 people and massive destruction across the coastal districts of Odisha. This disaster exposed failures in IMD's forecasting capabilities and inadequate disaster preparedness at the time.

Correct Answer: B. Kedarnath

The Uttarakhand Floods of 2013 were primarily associated with catastrophic flooding and destruction around Kedarnath, a major Hindu pilgrimage site. A cloudburst triggered flash floods and landslides that devastated the area on June 16-17, 2013. The disaster killed approximately 6,000 people with many more listed as missing, and thousands of pilgrims were stranded in remote areas.

Correct Answer: C. 6,000

Approximately 6,000 people died in the Uttarakhand Floods of June 2013, though official confirmed deaths were lower and thousands were listed as missing and presumed dead. The disaster was triggered by an unusually heavy monsoon combined with cloudbursts over the Himalayan terrain. It was the worst disaster in Uttarakhand since becoming a separate state in 2000.

Correct Answer: B. Cloudburst and heavy rainfall

The Uttarakhand Floods of 2013 were primarily triggered by exceptionally heavy rainfall and cloudbursts over the Himalayan terrain. The unusually early and intense monsoon caused rivers to overflow and triggered massive landslides that blocked valleys and created temporary dams. The rapid release of these dammed waters caused catastrophic flash floods that destroyed entire villages and infrastructure.

Correct Answer: C. 100 years

The Kerala Floods of 2018 were described as the worst floods in Kerala in nearly 100 years, since the great flood of 1924 (known as the '99 flood' in Malayalam). The floods occurred in August 2018 when all 14 districts of Kerala were placed on red alert. Over 483 people died, 14 lakh people were displaced, and the state suffered damage estimated at over Rs 31,000 crore.

Correct Answer: C. August 2018

The Kerala Floods of 2018 primarily occurred in August 2018, particularly during August 15-18 when unprecedented rainfall caused catastrophic flooding. All 14 districts of Kerala were placed under red alert during the peak of the crisis. The flooding was attributed to a combination of exceptionally heavy monsoon rainfall and release of water from multiple reservoirs simultaneously.