Major Disasters in India — Set 6
Disaster Management · भारत में प्रमुख आपदाएं · Questions 51–60 of 160
In which decade did India establish its National Disaster Management framework with formal legislation?
Correct Answer: B. 2000s
India established its formal National Disaster Management framework in the 2000s, specifically with the Disaster Management Act of 2005. This led to the creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in 2005 and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in 2006. The framework was built on lessons learned from the Bhuj Earthquake 2001 and the 2004 Tsunami.
Which annual phenomenon makes Assam's Kaziranga National Park vulnerable to flooding every year?
Correct Answer: B. Monsoon flooding of Brahmaputra
The annual monsoon flooding of the Brahmaputra River inundates large portions of Kaziranga National Park in Assam every year. While the floods are ecologically important for the park's grassland ecosystem, they also drive wildlife including the famous one-horned rhinoceros onto elevated areas and onto nearby National Highway 37. Each year, many animals including rhinos are killed on the highway or by poachers during floods.
What was the primary cause of the long-term health effects on Bhopal Gas Tragedy survivors?
Correct Answer: B. Long-term MIC and chemical contamination
Long-term health effects on Bhopal Gas Tragedy survivors were primarily caused by exposure to methyl isocyanate (MIC) and other toxic chemicals that leaked from the plant. Survivors suffered from respiratory disorders, eye problems, neurological damage, immune system dysfunction, and higher rates of cancer and reproductive health issues. Soil and groundwater contamination around the plant site continued to cause health problems for decades after the disaster.
The 2004 Tsunami waves traveled across the Indian Ocean at approximately what speed?
Correct Answer: C. 800 km/h
The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami waves traveled at approximately 800 km/h in the open ocean, roughly the speed of a jet aircraft. As the waves approached shallower coastal waters, they slowed down but their height increased dramatically. It took approximately 2 hours for the tsunami waves to reach India's coastline after the earthquake struck off Sumatra.
Which Indian state receives the highest number of landslides annually?
Correct Answer: D. Northeast India states
The northeastern Indian states, particularly Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, collectively experience the highest number of landslides annually in India due to their fragile geology, steep terrain, and heavy rainfall. Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh also experience significant landslides. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has mapped most of India's landslide-prone areas.
The Odisha Super Cyclone 1999 had wind speeds of approximately how much at its peak?
Correct Answer: C. 260 km/h
The Odisha Super Cyclone of 1999 had wind speeds exceeding 260 km/h at its peak intensity, making it one of the most powerful cyclones to ever make landfall in India. The associated storm surge of approximately 5-8 meters inundated large coastal areas of Odisha. The combination of extreme winds, storm surge, and heavy rainfall caused catastrophic destruction across 12 districts of Odisha.
What was the approximate magnitude of the Sumatra earthquake that caused the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami?
Correct Answer: D. 9.1-9.3 Mw
The Sumatra earthquake that caused the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami measured 9.1-9.3 on the Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw), making it the third largest earthquake ever recorded with instruments. The earthquake ruptured approximately 1,200-1,300 km of fault line along the subduction zone where the Indo-Australian tectonic plate slides under the Eurasian plate. It released energy equivalent to approximately 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs.
Joshimath in Uttarakhand faced what kind of disaster in 2022-2023?
Correct Answer: C. Land subsidence and sinking
Joshimath (officially Jyotirmath) in Uttarakhand faced severe land subsidence (sinking of the ground) beginning in late 2022 and continuing into 2023, with hundreds of buildings developing cracks and becoming uninhabitable. The town is built on an old landslide deposit and has been sinking due to a combination of geological factors and human activities including tunnel construction. Thousands of residents had to be evacuated and the crisis raised questions about construction in fragile Himalayan towns.
Which Indian state was most severely affected by the Latur Earthquake of 1993?
Correct Answer: B. Maharashtra
Maharashtra was most severely affected by the Latur Earthquake of September 30, 1993, with the earthquake named after Latur district which suffered extensive destruction. The Osmanabad district was also heavily damaged. The earthquake killed approximately 9,748-10,000 people and destroyed over 52 villages in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra.
What is the full form of UCIL in the context of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy?
Correct Answer: B. Union Carbide India Limited
UCIL stands for Union Carbide India Limited, which was the Indian subsidiary of the American Union Carbide Corporation (UCC). The UCIL plant in Bhopal was established in 1969 to produce pesticides. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy at this plant in 1984 led to one of history's most significant industrial liability cases and eventually resulted in a $470 million settlement.