Disaster Management Act, 2005
It created India's comprehensive legal framework for disaster management. It shifted the approach from relief centric response towards prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. It established institutions at national, state and district levels and provided for disaster management plans and dedicated financial mechanism. Under this following institutions have also been established.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
- It is headed by Prime Minister.
- Its members are cabinet minister, chief secretaries of government of India, chief of armed forces, DGs of paramilitary forces, experts from IITs and IIMs and other eminent personalities with experience.
NDRF
- It is specialized disaster response force.
- It works under central government.
- It is the first force to respond in case of disaster.
SDMA
- It is headed by Chief Minister.
- Its members are cabinet minister of state, chief secretaries of ministries, DGP, NCC cadets and technical and management gurus and other eminent personalities.
DDMA
- It is headed by District Magistrate.
- Its members are head of departments, home guards, commandant, NCC cadets, technical and management experts and eminent local personalities.
National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009
Its vision is to build a safe and disaster resilient India through a culture of prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response.
National Disaster Management Plan, 2016
It is India's first disaster management plan and it was revised in 2019. It incorporated India's commitments under the Sendai framework, Paris Agreement.
Sendai Linkage with NDMP
- Understanding disaster risk.
- Risk governance.
- Investment in resilience.
- Preparedness and build back better.
PM 10 point Agenda on DRR, 2016
It broadly focuses on
- Risk reduction in development.
- Greater use of technology.
- Community participation.
- Capacity building.
- International cooperation.
- Strengthening disaster resilient infrastructure, etc.
Disaster Management Amendment Act, 2025
This act amended 2005 act. The important provision include
- Urban Disaster Management Authority
- Provision for UDMAs in state capitals and cities having municipal cooperation.
- Focuses on urban specific risk such as urban flooding and heatwaves.
- National Disaster Database
- It is to create a national disaster database containing disaster related data, risk assessment and mitigation plans.
- Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance.
- Greater clarity in roles of NDMA, SDMA and DDMA.
- Greater emphasis on risk assessment, mitigation and multi-hazard planning.
- High level Committee
- HLC given statutory status for matters including financial assistance to states.
- National Crisis Management Committee
- Greater emphasis on urban resilience
- It is important because rapid urbanization has increased the frequency and intensity of disaster in urban areas.
Flood Disaster
Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 flood is a temporary inundation of normally dryland due to excess water from river, rainfall, drainage failure, storm surge or dam embankment failure.
Causes
- Intense monsoon rain.
- Cloud burst.
- GLOF, etc.
- Due to human activities also e.g. wetland loss, poor urban drainage, deforestation, unplanned urban expansion, etc.
About 40 million hectare of India is flood prone, primarily in the eastern and northern India.
Disaster Management
- Pre-disaster management Preparedness
- Hazard mapping.
- Flood plain zoning.
- Resilient infrastructure.
- Forecasting using SACHET.
- Emergency stocks.
- During disaster
- Early evacuation.
- Incident response system.
- Emergency operation centres ensure coordination
e.g. in 2026 Bihar flood presented very good example of integrated approach combining forecasting, GIS monitoring, evacuation planning and inter departmental coordination.
- Post disaster
- Damage assessment.
- Compensation.
- Restoration of infrastructure and health services.
- Livelihood rehabilitation.
- Build back better.
GOLF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood)
GOLF is a sudden release of water stored in a glacial lake usually because its natural dam made of moraine fails.
Causes
- Rapid melting of glaciers.
- Cloud burst.
- Avalanche.
- Landslide
- Earthquake, etc.
Disaster Management
India's MDMA guidelines on management of GOLF October 2020 provide the broad framework including SOP for pre-disaster preparedness, emergency response and post-disaster recovery.
- Pre-disaster preparedness
- Identifying high-risk glacial lake by using satellite data and CWC data.
- Conduct bathymetric survey for the lake depth and volume.
- Geological surveys and hydrological assessment of the glacial lake.
- Early warning systems regarding water levels, rainfall and temperature by using satellite imaginary, Doppler Radar, local weather stations.
- Reduce lake drainage by controlled drainage and pumping of eater.
- Stabilization of moraine.
- Avoid new settlements and critical infrastructure in GLOF pathways.
- Design bridges, roads and dams from GLOF scenarios.
- Community preparedness
- Evacuation plan
- Evacuation routes
- Apadha Mitra
- Specially arrangements for tourists, elderly and vulnerable population. like women and physically challenged people.
C-DAC Sikkim systems uses sensors and satellite communication to make appropriate management of GOLF
- During disaster
- Rapid warning by using SACHET.
- Immediate evacuation.
- Search and rescue.
- Protection of critical infrastructure.
- Emergency response like food, water, medicine, safe shelter.
- Post disaster
- Damage and loss assessment.
- Restore essential services.
- Rehabilitation.
- Post scientific evaluation.
- Build back better.
Cloud Burst
Cloudburst is a sudden intense rainfall event in which highly localized rainfall occurs over a small area in a very short duration. As per IMD criterion it is 10 cm or more rainfall in 1 hour over small geographical area.
Causes
- High orographic uplift of moist air.
- Strong convection
- Abundant monsoonal moisture
- Wind shear
- Mountain topography
Disaster Management
- Pre-disaster
- Better forecasting by using Doppler weather radar, satellite imageries and numerical weather prediction system.
- Prepare micro-level hazard and landslide susceptibility maps.
- Develop evacuation routes.
- Identify safe shelters.
- Conduct community drills and trained Apadha Mitra.
- During disaster
- As above
- Post disaster
- As above
Landslides
Landslide is the movement of rock, soil or debris downslope typically triggered by various natural and man-made factors.
Causes
- Heavy rainfall.
- Earthquake
- Volcanic activity
- Avalanche
- Steep slope
- Vegetation loss
- Deforestation
- Mining and quarrying
- Urbanization in hilly areas
Disaster Management
- Pre-disaster Preparedness
- Land use planning and zoning
- Restoration and vegetation management
- Slope stabilization
- Soil conservation
- Early warning systems
- Public awareness, community training, Apdha Mitra, mock-drills
- During disaster
- Search and rescue
- Emergency support of food, water, shelter, medicine.
- Emergency coordination and communication.
- Post disaster
- Rebuilding infrastructure.
- Restoration of ecosystem
- Immediate financial relief
- Psychological support
- Post disaster assessment
- Build back better