Types of Disasters — Set 8

Correct Answer: C. East coast

Cyclones forming in the Bay of Bengal predominantly affect India's east coast, including the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The Bay of Bengal accounts for about 7% of the world's total tropical cyclones but produces some of the most destructive storms. The 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone and Cyclone Amphan (2020) are notable Bay of Bengal cyclones.

Correct Answer: B. West coast

Cyclone Tauktae (2021) was an extremely severe cyclonic storm that affected India's west coast, including Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Gujarat, and was the most powerful cyclone to hit the Arabian Sea in years. Tauktae made landfall near Diu on the Gujarat coast in May 2021, coinciding with the peak of the COVID-19 second wave. The Arabian Sea has been showing increased cyclone activity in recent decades, linked to rising sea surface temperatures.

Correct Answer: C. A slow-onset disaster

Soil erosion and land degradation are slow-onset disasters that reduce agricultural productivity over years and decades, threatening food security and rural livelihoods. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) classifies land degradation as a major slow-onset disaster requiring long-term restoration measures. India has approximately 120.4 million hectares of degraded land, equivalent to over 36% of its total geographical area.

Correct Answer: C. 51–75%

IMD classifies a severe drought as a rainfall deficiency of 51–75% below the long-period average for the relevant period. A moderate drought corresponds to 26–50% deficiency, and an extreme drought exceeds 75% deficiency. The 2002 drought year was one of India's most severe, when the country's monsoon rainfall was about 19% below normal, triggering drought in 18 states.

Correct Answer: C. More than 75%

The correct answer is 'More than 75%'. IMD classifies an extreme drought when rainfall deficiency exceeds 75% of the long-period normal for the season or region. Extreme droughts cause near-total crop failure, severe water scarcity, livestock mortality, and migration. India has experienced extreme drought conditions in certain states during major drought years including 1987, 2002, and 2015.

Correct Answer: C. Cyclone

Cyclones have the longest warning lead time among major natural disasters — modern forecasting allows warnings 5–7 days in advance of landfall with increasing accuracy. This long lead time allows evacuation of millions of coastal residents before impact. India's cyclone death toll has dramatically reduced from over 10,000 in the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone to fewer than 100 in equivalent storms today, largely due to improved early warning and evacuation systems.

Correct Answer: C. Avalanche

The Siachen Glacier, at approximately 5,400 metres altitude, is one of the world's most avalanche-prone areas and the world's highest battlefield. Avalanches at Siachen have killed hundreds of Indian soldiers over the decades, including the tragic 2012 avalanche that buried an entire army post at Gyari. The extreme altitude, heavy snowfall, and seismic activity combine to make Siachen exceptionally dangerous for avalanche occurrence.

Correct Answer: C. Volcanic eruptions

A lahar is a volcanic mudflow — a mixture of water and volcanic material that flows rapidly down the slopes of a volcano, often following river valleys. Lahars are secondary disasters triggered by volcanic eruptions when rainfall, snowmelt, or crater lake water mixes with volcanic ash and debris. The 1985 Nevado del Ruiz eruption in Colombia generated devastating lahars that killed over 23,000 people in the town of Armero.

Correct Answer: D. Bihar

Bihar consistently reports the highest number of lightning-related deaths in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh. These states in the Indo-Gangetic Plain lie in a zone of high convective thunderstorm activity during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. NDMA has issued Lightning Protection Guidelines and is working with states on lightning-safe shelters, Doppler radar warnings, and community awareness.

Correct Answer: C. 1991 and later years including 2017–2018

Barren Island's modern eruptive history began in 1991 after a dormant period of nearly 150 years, and it has shown intermittent eruptions since, with notable activity in 1994–95, 2005–2007, and more recently in 2017–2018. The island is actively monitored by the Geological Survey of India and INCOIS for any changes in eruptive behaviour. The volcano remains uninhabited and poses no immediate threat to human settlements.