Types of Disasters — Set 9
Disaster Management · आपदाओं के प्रकार · Questions 81–90 of 120
Pest infestations affecting crops are classified under which disaster category?
Correct Answer: C. Biological
Pest infestations including locust swarms, rodent attacks, and crop disease outbreaks are classified as biological disasters because they involve living organisms causing large-scale damage. India's Agriculture Ministry and state governments manage biological agricultural disasters through the National Pest Management Scheme. FAO's Global Early Warning System for locust threats helps India's Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) anticipate and respond to impending swarms.
Sea-level rise due to climate change is best classified as:
Correct Answer: C. Slow-onset disaster driven by climate change
Sea-level rise is a slow-onset disaster driven primarily by anthropogenic climate change through thermal expansion of seawater and melting of glaciers and ice sheets. Over time, gradual sea-level rise threatens low-lying coastal communities, increases salinity intrusion into freshwater aquifers, and intensifies storm surge flooding during cyclones. Small island states in the Indian Ocean such as the Maldives face existential threats from rising seas.
Radiological disasters differ from nuclear disasters in that radiological disasters typically involve:
Correct Answer: B. Dispersal of radioactive material without a nuclear explosion
Radiological disasters involve the uncontrolled dispersal of radioactive material — for example from a 'dirty bomb' (radiological dispersal device), radiation source theft, or medical/industrial source accident — without a nuclear explosion or criticality event. Nuclear disasters involve actual criticality accidents or reactor meltdowns with much larger energy and radiation releases. NDRF has specialised CBRN-trained teams equipped to respond to both radiological and nuclear emergencies.
Which of the following is an example of a man-made disaster caused by deliberate action?
Correct Answer: C. Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism — the deliberate use of biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, or toxins to cause harm — is a man-made disaster resulting from deliberate human action rather than accident or natural processes. Deliberate man-made disasters also include chemical weapons attacks, radiological 'dirty bombs,' and arson-triggered wildfires. India's NDMA and security agencies have developed joint protocols for responding to deliberate CBRN incidents.
Which country experienced the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011?
Correct Answer: C. Japan
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster occurred in Japan on March 11, 2011, following the Great East Japan Earthquake and its associated tsunami. The Tohoku earthquake measured 9.0 on the Moment Magnitude Scale, triggering a tsunami with waves up to 40 metres high that overwhelmed the nuclear plant's seawall. The disaster caused the evacuation of over 154,000 people and has been described as the second worst nuclear disaster after Chernobyl.
An 'industrial accident' is classified under which broader disaster category?
Correct Answer: C. Man-made (technological) disaster
Industrial accidents are classified as man-made or technological disasters because they result from failures in human-designed industrial processes, safety systems, or management practices. Examples include chemical plant explosions, oil refinery fires, mine collapses, and toxic material releases. The Environment Protection Act 1986 in India was strengthened partly in response to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy to prevent industrial disasters.
Which of the following is primarily a 'geological' disaster?
Correct Answer: D. Tsunami
Tsunami is primarily a geological disaster triggered by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or submarine landslides that displace large volumes of water. While the wave propagation through the ocean is a physical oceanographic process, the triggering mechanism is geological. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami demonstrated how a single geological event can trigger a catastrophic multi-country disaster within hours.
Cold waves in India most severely affect which region?
Correct Answer: C. North India (Indo-Gangetic Plain)
Cold waves most severely affect North India, especially the Indo-Gangetic Plain states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, during December and January. IMD declares a cold wave when the minimum temperature falls to 10°C or below on plains, or when the departure from normal minimum temperature is –4.5°C or below. Cold waves cause significant mortality among homeless populations, outdoor workers, and the elderly in India.
Which IMD category of cyclone represents the most intense designation?
Correct Answer: C. Super Cyclonic Storm
Super Cyclonic Storm (SCS) is the most intense category in IMD's cyclone classification system, with wind speeds exceeding 221 km/h. The hierarchy from least to most intense is: Depression → Deep Depression → Cyclonic Storm → Severe Cyclonic Storm → Very Severe Cyclonic Storm → Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm → Super Cyclonic Storm. Cyclone Amphan (2020) was a Super Cyclonic Storm at its peak intensity in the Bay of Bengal.
Fire disasters in forests are classified as which type of disaster?
Correct Answer: C. Natural or Man-made depending on cause
Forest fires can be either natural (triggered by lightning) or man-made (caused by deliberate burning, carelessness, or arson), making their classification context-dependent. In India, most forest fires are man-made — caused by slash-and-burn agriculture, campfires, and deliberate clearing. NDRF and State Forest Departments coordinate forest fire response, and ISRO's satellites provide real-time fire detection data for rapid response.