CHEMICAL DISASTERS These type of disasters are the results of misuse of chemicals. These chemicals are very difficult to be detected as they are colourless and odourless, and also they are easily available in the market. So the anti-social elements often get them very easily and do the destruction. Chemical disasters sometimes happen suddenly without one’s intention. One of the chemical disasters is leakage of gas. It causes burning and redness in eyes and nostrils.
We can protect ourselves against these type of disasters by following these points :
(i) We should keep any wet cloth on our mouth and then breathe.
(ii) We should not do hurry or panic at the time of gas leakage.
(iii) Don’t touch the switches.
To prevent such chemical disasters government should also take some steps:
(i) Industrial units should be apart from the residential colonies.
(ii) Municipal Corporations should do surveys of these units in due time.
(iii) There must be an emergency plan in order to deal with any type of industrial accidents.
(iv) Various types of drugs and masks must be there in the market in order to overcome the effects of the chemical disasters.
WARS
Wars also cause mass destruction of property and human life. The World War-I (1914-18) killed ten million people. The Second World War (1939-45) was more terrible than the First World War. It killed seventeen million people. The bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in 1945 is considered as one of the worst man made disasters. Its harmful effects are being felt even today.
ACCIDENTAL DISASTERS
These types of disasters are caused by the mistakes of human beings. Sometimes machinery failure is also the reason behind these types of disasters. Accidental disasters may include rail accidents, road accidents and fires etc. These disasters also cause a heavy loss of life and property. You might have heard such rail or road accidents. These accidents often happen due to the man’s mistake or carelessness. We can avoid these accidents if we are careful.
Precautions to Avoid Accidents
1. Follow the Traffic rules: Traffic rules are made for our safety and if we follow them then there will be almost no accident.
2. Information to Police or Fire Station :
Police or fire station are very useful at the time of accidents. They can decrease the effects of harm or destruction. So we must inform them.
3. Co-operation : We must co-operate with each other and with government agencies as well as during any accidental disasters.
IMPACT OF DISASTERS
Death, injury to people and animal population and also the destruction of properties are the direct impacts of the disasters. Communication, power supply, water supply, drainage etc. go haywire in view of the destruction. The healthcare and hospitals are also put under sever stress. Even under normal circumstances, the transport, the power line, ambulances, hospitals and other utilities are maximum stretched and taking further load becomes very difficult. All the economic activities like industries, agricultural activities including the service sector come to a standstill due to want of one critical input or other or due to safety reasons. This is applicable even in man-made disasters, like riots etc. affected for long time till normalcy returns. The entire gamut of psychological trauma of the disasters is very high and people go through trauma for a long time. In some of the major disasters the recovery and resilience of the community takes years.
Recent Initiatives
The Govt. of India had set-up a High Powered Committee on Disaster Management in August, 1999 under the leadership of Mr. J.C. Pant, former Secretary to Government of India. He along with other members had very detailed discussions and consultation with NGOs, State Governments, District Collectors, academician, policy makers and international experts available in the country and outside. The mandate of the High Powered Committee was to look into the existing disaster management system in the country and the improvements to be made in the disaster management administration. The High Power Committee constituted five sub-committees namely, (1) water and climate related disasters, (ii) geologically related disasters, (iii) chemical, industrial and nuclear related disasters, (iv) accident related disasters, and (vi) biologically related disasters. In these groups, all the Ministers, Departments of Government of India NGOS, experts and training institutions were included.
Need for Collective Efforts Science and technology has progressed today and one is better equipped to handle disaster, which need better understanding and coordination. Disaster governance has become a very important component of the development agenda. Disaster management is not only a national issue but also an international issue and needs a humanitarian approach in its governance. Disaster can be mitigated by collective efforts by one and all at all levels. It should be our common agenda and endeavor to make the places safe where we live in.
Conclusion
With the tropical climate and unstable landforms, coupled with high population density, poverty, literacy and lack of adequate infrastructure, India is one of the most vulnerable developing countries to suffer very often various natural disasters which cause a devastating impact on human life, economy and environment. Though it is almost impossible to fully recoup the damage caused by the disasters so it is possible to:
1. Minimize the potential risks by developing early warning strategies.
2. Prepare and implement developmental plans to provide resilience to such disasters.
3. Mobilize resources including communication and medicinal services.
