Major Disasters in India — Set 5
Disaster Management · भारत में प्रमुख आपदाएं · Questions 41–50 of 160
The Bhuj Earthquake 2001 occurred at what time in the morning?
Correct Answer: B. 8:46 AM
The Bhuj Earthquake occurred at 8:46 AM IST on January 26, 2001. The timing was particularly tragic as it coincided with Republic Day celebrations, when many people had gathered in open grounds and public spaces for events. Schools and public buildings that had gathered crowds were among the structures that collapsed.
Which river flooding primarily caused the Bihar floods that recur every year?
Correct Answer: C. Kosi
The Kosi River, often called the 'Sorrow of Bihar', primarily causes the recurring Bihar floods along with other rivers like the Gandak and Mahananda. The Kosi River originates in Nepal and carries enormous amounts of silt and debris from the Himalayas. In 2008, a major breach in the Kosi embankment caused one of the worst floods in Bihar's recent history, displacing over 3 million people.
The Latur Earthquake of 1993 struck at what time of day?
Correct Answer: A. 3:56 AM
The Latur Earthquake struck at 3:56 AM on September 30, 1993 when most people were asleep in their homes. The early morning timing contributed greatly to the high death toll as people had no warning and were trapped under collapsed structures while sleeping. Traditional stone and mud construction in the region proved extremely vulnerable to earthquake shaking.
The 2018 Kerala Floods damaged how many districts of Kerala?
Correct Answer: D. All 14 districts
All 14 districts of Kerala were placed under red alert during the 2018 floods, making it a state-wide disaster of unprecedented scale. This was the first time in Kerala's history that all districts were under red alert simultaneously. The widespread nature of the disaster overwhelmed relief and rescue operations, requiring massive deployment of NDRF teams and the Indian Navy.
In which year did the massive Kosi River embankment breach cause devastating floods in Bihar?
Correct Answer: C. 2008
In August 2008, the Kosi River embankment breached near Kusaha in Nepal, causing one of the worst floods in Bihar in the 21st century. The breach caused the Kosi River to shift its course by approximately 120 km eastward, flooding 5 districts of Bihar. Over 3 million people were displaced and approximately 500 people were killed in this disaster.
What does the term 'cloudburst' refer to in the context of Indian disasters?
Correct Answer: B. Rainfall exceeding 100mm per hour
A cloudburst is defined meteorologically as extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 100mm per hour over a small area (approximately 20-30 sq km). Cloudbursts are particularly common in the Himalayan regions and cause sudden flash floods and landslides. The 2013 Kedarnath disaster was primarily triggered by a cloudburst that caused the Chorabari Lake to overflow and triggered massive debris flows.
Cyclone Amphan caused estimated damage of approximately how much in India?
Correct Answer: C. $13 billion
Cyclone Amphan caused estimated total damage of approximately $13 billion across India and Bangladesh combined, making it one of the costliest cyclones in the Bay of Bengal. In India alone, West Bengal suffered damage estimated at over Rs 1 lakh crore. The cyclone destroyed millions of homes, uprooted trees, and caused massive damage to the electricity grid in Kolkata and surrounding areas.
India's worst dam failure disaster in terms of deaths occurred at which dam?
Correct Answer: B. Machu Dam
India's worst dam failure disaster occurred at the Machu Dam (Machhu Dam-II) in Morbi, Gujarat on August 11, 1979. Heavy monsoon flooding caused the dam to breach, unleashing a catastrophic wall of water on Morbi town. The official death toll was approximately 1,800-2,500 but estimates suggest the actual number may have been much higher due to inadequate record-keeping at the time.
The 2004 Tsunami created waves of approximately what height when it hit India's coast?
Correct Answer: B. 5-10 meters
The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami created waves of approximately 5-10 meters when they hit India's coastline, though some locations recorded waves of up to 13-15 meters. The waves traveled at speeds of up to 800 km/h in the open ocean and retained enormous destructive energy by the time they reached India's coastline. The waves inundated coastal areas up to several kilometers inland in some locations.
Which organization was created after the 2001 Bhuj Earthquake specifically for Gujarat's reconstruction?
Correct Answer: B. GSDMA (Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority)
The Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) was created in 2001 specifically to manage relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction after the Bhuj Earthquake. GSDMA became a model institution for state-level disaster management in India. The reconstruction effort it oversaw was one of the largest and most successful post-disaster reconstruction programs in India's history.