Major Disasters in India — Set 9
Disaster Management · भारत में प्रमुख आपदाएं · Questions 81–90 of 160
What is a 'storm surge' in the context of cyclone disasters?
Correct Answer: B. Abnormal rise in sea level due to cyclone winds and low pressure
A storm surge is the abnormal rise in sea level that occurs when a cyclone's powerful winds push seawater toward the coast, combined with the effect of the cyclone's low pressure. Storm surges can raise sea level by 5-10 meters or more during super cyclones and are responsible for the majority of cyclone-related deaths in coastal areas. The 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone's storm surge of 5-8 meters was a primary cause of its devastating death toll.
Uttarakhand was carved out as a separate state from Uttar Pradesh in which year?
Correct Answer: B. 2000
Uttarakhand (originally named Uttaranchal) was carved out as the 27th state of India from Uttar Pradesh on November 9, 2000. The state encompasses the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions of western UP and is highly prone to natural disasters including floods, landslides, cloudbursts, and earthquakes. The state was renamed Uttarakhand in January 2007.
Which is the only Indian state to have faced both major earthquake and super cyclone disasters in recent decades?
Correct Answer: D. Odisha
Odisha is arguably the most disaster-prone state in India, having faced the devastating 1999 Super Cyclone (10,000 deaths) and also earthquakes, annual floods, and subsequent cyclones like Fani 2019. The state has transformed its disaster management capabilities after 1999, becoming a model for cyclone preparedness in India. Odisha's success in limiting casualties during Cyclone Fani 2019 to 64 deaths despite its intensity is internationally recognized.
What is the primary cause of annual floods in the Brahmaputra river valley in Assam?
Correct Answer: B. Heavy monsoon rainfall and snowmelt combined with Himalayan geography
Annual floods in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam are primarily caused by the combination of exceptionally heavy monsoon rainfall in the catchment area, snowmelt from Himalayan glaciers, and the river's characteristic as a braided river carrying enormous sediment loads. The Brahmaputra has one of the highest sediment discharges of any river in the world, causing its riverbed to rise and making flooding more frequent. The narrow Assam valley funnels enormous volumes of water, causing widespread inundation.
The Kedarnath temple itself survived the 2013 Uttarakhand floods due to what reason?
Correct Answer: B. A large boulder protected it from debris flow
The Kedarnath temple survived the 2013 Uttarakhand floods primarily because a massive boulder lodged behind the temple acted as a natural barrier, diverting the debris flow around the ancient structure. The boulder has since been called the 'saviour boulder' by locals. The surrounding areas including the town were completely devastated while the temple stood largely intact, which was considered miraculous by many devotees.
What is the approximate total death toll of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami globally?
Correct Answer: C. 2,27,898
The global death toll of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami was approximately 2,27,898 people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded human history. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand were the four most severely affected countries. The disaster prompted the establishment of comprehensive tsunami early warning systems across the Indian Ocean region.
Which year did India launch the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System under INCOIS?
Correct Answer: B. 2007
India launched its Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System under INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services) in 2007, following the devastating 2004 Tsunami. The system uses a network of seismograph stations, bottom pressure recorders, and tide gauges to detect tsunami-generating earthquakes and issue warnings. INCOIS is headquartered in Hyderabad and is the designated Tsunami Service Provider for the North Indian Ocean.
The Banaskantha floods of 2017 in Gujarat were caused by overflow of which river?
Correct Answer: B. Banas
The Banaskantha floods of July 2017 in Gujarat were caused by the overflow of the Banas River following heavy monsoon rainfall in the Aravalli hills catchment. The floods affected over 100 villages and displaced thousands of people in north Gujarat. The disaster prompted calls for better flood management infrastructure in the drought-prone but periodically flood-affected Banaskantha district.
Which phenomenon causes floods in coastal areas of India during cyclones, distinct from rainfall flooding?
Correct Answer: B. Storm surge
Storm surge causes flooding in coastal areas during cyclones, distinct from rainfall-induced river flooding. During a cyclone, strong winds push massive amounts of seawater toward the coast, and the low atmospheric pressure of the cyclone allows sea levels to rise. Storm surges during major cyclones can raise coastal sea levels by 4-10 meters, inundating coastal towns and villages and causing more deaths than the wind or rainfall from the same cyclone.
The worst heat wave in India in recent years killed over 2,000 people in which year?
Correct Answer: C. 2015
The worst heat wave in recent Indian history occurred in May-June 2015, killing over 2,000 people primarily in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Temperatures reached 47-48°C in several parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The disaster prompted NDMA to issue specific heat wave action plans for states and led to the adoption of heat action plans by several major cities.