HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 11: Model Answer

Question: Examine the various forms of disasters to which Himachal Pradesh is vulnerable.   8 Marks

The United Nations defines disaster as “the occurrence of sudden or major misfortune which disrupts the basic fabric and normal functioning of the society or community”.

1. EARTHQUAKES – Himachal Pradesh is a predominantly a hilly state made up of the sedimentary rocks of Himalayas on the active margin of Indo- Australian Plate which is still in constant collision with the Eurasian Plate. Because of this ongoing activity Himachal Pradesh is prone to Disastrous Earthquakes.

As per the BIS seismic zoning map five districts of the State, namely Chamba (53.2%) Hamirpur (90.9%), Kangra (98.6%), Kullu (53.1%), Mandi (97.4%) are susceptible to the high threat of Earthquake. Two districts, Bilaspur (25.3%) and Una (37.0%) are moderately vulnerable to earthquake.

Recent Examples of Earthquakes – Large earthquakes have occurred in all parts of Himachal Pradesh, the biggest being the Kangra Earthquake of 1905.There were two more big quakes, but they were not nearly as powerful as the 1905 jolt.  The first was in 1906, a 6.4 near Kullu and the second was a 6.8 in Lahual-Kinnaur Spiti in 1975 along the Indo-China Border.

2. Landslides – Having the rugged topography with steep slopes of sedimentary mountains Himachal Pradesh is Prone to Landslides and Avalanches. The Landslides and Earthquakes have become disastrous in the recent times in the wake of rapid unplanned urbanization, construction activities of Infrastructure and incessant Deforestation.
3. Cloud Burst – Being a hilly state having high altitude Mountains Himachal Pradesh is susceptible to Cloud Burst and in the recent times Forest Fire has also appeared to be one of the disasters causing loss of life and property.

A cloudburst is sudden copious rainfall. It is a sudden aggressive rainstorm falling for a short period of time limited to a small geographical area. Meteorologists say the rain from a cloudburst is usually of the shower type with a fall rate equal to or greater than 100 mm per hour.

4. Stampede – It is an occurrence in which a large group of frightened or excited people run together in a wild and uncontrolled way to escape from something, get out of a place, etc. Because of over crowding at the religious and the tourist places Himachal is vulnerable to stampede.

The National Disaster Management Act has laid the clear-cut instruction to the State Government to constitute State Disaster Management Authority to identify the nature of disaster in their respective states and to step up their level of preparation to deal with the state specific disasters.