Disaster Prone Areas in India: An Understanding to Reduce Disaster Risks

Natural disasters are a common phenomenon in India. Its geographical condition and location are causing the country to be vulnerable to natural hazards. According to a report, disaster prone areas in India cover almost 90% of the nation.

This percentage may increase as the nation experiences climate change and environmental degradation. Therefore, the government must create a map of disaster prone regions in India, a well-developed mitigation plan, and an effective disaster early warning system.

Natural Disaster Prone Areas in India

India is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters. Most of these hazards are weather-related calamities, such as flash floods, landslides, drought, heat waves, and cyclones. Earthquakes also frequently occur in this country.

According to UNICEF, 27 of 29 Indian states are vulnerable to natural catastrophes. Below are Indian disaster-prone regions.

1. Flood-Prone Areas

Floods frequently hit many regions in India. Every year, this hazard kills several hundred people, displaces millions of people, and damages crops. In this country, floods typically occur because of monsoon rains.

These rains cause Brahmaputra and other rivers to overflow their banks. According to a report, 12% or about 40 million hectares of Indian land is vulnerable to floods. Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, and West Bengal are major flood prone areas in India.

In recent years, floods have occurred more frequently in regions not prone to this hazard. This anomaly is caused by climate change.

2. Landslide-Prone Areas

Another common disaster in India is landslides. Many hills in the lower Himalayas are susceptible to this hazard because they have young-age rock formations. In addition, deforestation, increased population, tourism development, earthquakes, and other factors make hills prone to landslides.

Approximately, landslides kill 300 people every year in India. This natural hazard also causes the country to suffer from financial loss. On average, this nation loses $400 billion/year due to landslips.

A report said 12% of land in this country is susceptible to landslips. Landslide disaster prone areas in India are Western Himalaya, Eastern Himalaya, North-Eastern Himalaya, Western Ghat region Naga-Arakan mountain belts, Nilgiri, and Meghalaya-Plateau.

3. Earthquake-Prone Areas

Devastating earthquakes have hit India several times in the last centuries. According to a government report, about 59% of the country’s land is vulnerable to this catastrophe. The quake-prone areas in this nation are categorized into several zones.

Zone 5 is extremely vulnerable to earthquakes with an intensity of MSK IX or more. Therefore, constructions in this zone have a very high risk of suffering from severe damage. Zone 5 covers Kashmir, Western and Central Himalayas, North-Eastern India, etc.

Zone 4 is a high-risk damage area. This zone is prone to quakes of MSK VIII intensity or more. Zone 4 covers Delhi, some parts of the Indo-Gangetic plains, Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.

Zone 3 is liable to earthquakes of MSK VII intensity, which can cause moderate damage to areas in this zone. Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kerala, and Kolkata are areas in Zone 3.

4. Cyclone-Prone Areas

About 8% of Indian land is prone to cyclones. Cyclone-prone areas in this country typically experience two or three cyclones a year. Moreover, the cyclonic activities on the east coast are commonly more intense than those on the west. 

Cyclone disaster prone areas in India are states located along the Bay of Bengal, such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal. Meanwhile, Maharashtra and Gujarat are cyclone-prone areas on the west.

The Importance of Cell Broadcast Technology in India’s Disaster Early Warning System

The government of India can take several measures to reduce the disaster risk in the areas above. One of these measures is using an effective communication method in its disaster early warning system (DEWS). An example of this method is the cell broadcast technology.

This technology allows Indian local governments and authorities to effectively disseminate disaster alerts to mobile phone users in disaster-prone areas. To send cell broadcast alerts, authorities do not need credits or a database of mobile phone users in those areas.

This is because it disseminates alerts through the radio cells of a mobile phone network. Moreover, cell broadcast technology can distribute alerts quickly. This method can send a targeted alert to thousands of mobile phone users in seconds.

Therefore, the recipients of this alert have more time to go to safer places or save their belongings. Consequently, the number of victims and property loss can be reduced.

Mapping disaster prone areas in India is an essential step to reducing disaster risk. However, the government of India cannot stop at this step alone. It must also adopt cell broadcast technology in its DEWS. This technology is available for purchase on smsbroadcaster.com.