useful.

1. Disaster Management
Md. I. A. Ansari
Department of Agricultural
Engineering
Birsa Agricultural University
Kanke, Ranchi
(e-mail: irfan26200@yahoo.com)

2. Disaster
• Origin- French word “Desastre” which is a
combination of two words ‘des’ meaning bad
and ‘aster’ meaning star. Thus the term refers
to ‘Bad or Evil star’.
• A disaster can be defined as “A serious
disruption in the functioning of the community or
a society causing wide spread material,
economic, social or environmental losses which
exceed the ability of the affected society to
cope using its own resources”.
• Type: natural and man made disasters.

3. • Disaster Management:
• Disaster management can be defined as the
organization and management of resources
and responsibilities for dealing with all
humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in
particular preparedness, response and
recovery in order to lessen the impact of
disasters

4. • Aim of disaster management:
• to reduce, or avoid, the potential losses
• from hazards,
• assure prompt and appropriate
assistance to victims of disaster,
• and achieve rapid and effective
recovery

5. Forest Fire disaster
Biological Disaster
Chemical Disaster
Radiological/Nuclear Disaster

6. Forest Fire Disaster
• All fires involve chemical reaction which
produces heat, smoke, and light.
• Heat and smoke are the killers. Smoke and
darkness make a deadly combination to
which people succumb.
• Different types of fires require different types
of fire extinguishers.
• Fire extinguishers: water, wet chemicals,
foam, powder, carbon dioxide, and
vaporizing liquid extinguishers.
•

7. • Forest Fires are also known as wild fires,
bush fires, and brush fires.
• As per the latest state of forests report of
the Forest Survey of India the actual forest
cover of India is 19.27%.
• About 90% of the forest fires in India are
created by humans.
• The normal fire season in India is from the
month of February to mid June.
• Forest fires are a major cause of
degradation of India's forests.

8. Requirements for a Fire
• Fuel-wood or other plant material
• Oxygen-air is the main supply
• Heat Source-sparks, lightning, cigarettes

10. • During summer, when there is no rain
for months, the forests become
littered with dry leaves and twinges,
which could burst into flames ignited
by the slightest spark.

11. • India witnessed the most severe forest fires
during the summer of 1995 in the hills of Uttar
Pradesh & Himachal Pradesh.
• Forest fire in 2016 in Uttrakhand
• Reports of forest fires from the USA, Canada,
South Africa, and Australia are common.

12. Uttrakhand Forest Fire

13. Uttrakhand Forest Fire
• National Disaster Response Force was deployed for
rescue operations in Kumaon and Garhwal areas.
Around 6,000 personnel from the Forest Department
were deployed.
• As of 30 April 2016, 922 incidences of fire were reported
affecting around 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) of forest
area.
• The Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force were used
to douse the fires with water. The affected area later
increased to around 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres),
extending into Himachal Pradesh.

16. 1997 forest fires in Indonesia

17. • Causes of Forest Fire:
• Forest fires are caused by natural causes as
well as man-made causes.
• Natural causes- Many forest fires start from
natural causes such as lightning which set
trees on fire.
• Colliding rolling stones and rubbing of dry
bamboos in strong winds may also cause forest
fires.
• However, rain extinguishes such fires without
causing much damage.
• High atmospheric temperatures and dryness
(low humidity) offer favorable circumstance for a
fire to start.

18. • Man made causes- Fire is caused when a
source of fire like naked flame, cigarette or
bidi, electric spark or any source of ignition
comes into contact with inflammable
material. A small matchstick is enough to
ignite a forest fire, especially in drier
tropical forests.
• Causes of forest fires can be divided into
two broad categories: environmental
(which are beyond control) and human
related (which are controllable).

19. • Environmental causes are largely related
to climatic conditions such as
temperature, wind speed and direction,
level of moisture in soil and atmosphere
and duration of dry spells.
• Other natural causes are the friction
between bamboos due to high wind
velocity and rolling stones that result in
sparks setting off fires in highly
inflammable leaf litter on the forest floor.

20. • Human related causes:
• The use of fires by villagers to ward off wild
animals fires lit intentionally by people
living around forests for recreation fires
started accidentally by careless visitors to
forests who discard cigarette butts.

21. • Fires are a major cause of forest degradation
and have wide ranging adverse ecological,
economic and social impacts, including:
• loss of valuable timber resources
• degradation of catchment areas
• loss of biodiversity and extinction of plants and
animals
• loss of wildlife habitat and depletion of wildlife
• loss of natural regeneration and reduction in
forest cover
• global warming

22. • change in the microclimate of the area
with unhealthy living conditions
• soil erosion affecting productivity of soils
and production
• ozone layer depletion
• health problems leading to diseases
• loss of livelihood for tribal people and the
rural poor, as approximately 300 million
people are directly dependent upon
collection of non-timber forest products
from forest areas for their livelihood.

23. Needs of the fire management:
• The incidence of forest fires in the country is
increasing and more area is burned each year.
• Both the national focus and the technical
resources for a systematic forest fire
management programme are lacking in the
country.
• Important forest fire management elements like
strategic fire centres, coordination among
Ministries, funding, human resource
development, fire research, fire management,
and extension programmes are missing.

24. • Taking into consideration the serious nature of
the problem, it is necessary to make some
major improvements in the forest fire
management strategy for the country.
• The Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Government of India, has prepared a National
Master Plan for Forest Fire Control.
• This plan proposes to introduce a well-
coordinated and integrated fire-management
programme that includes the following
components:

25. • Prevention of human-caused fires through
education. It will include silvicultural activities,
engineering works, people participation, and
education and enforcement.
• It is proposed that more emphasis be given to
people participation through Joint Forest Fire
Management for fire prevention.
• Prompt detection of fires through a well
coordinated network of observation points,
efficient ground patrolling, and communication
networks.

26. • Remote sensing technology is to be given
due importance in fire detection.
• For successful fire management and
administration, a National Fire Danger
Rating System (NFDRS) and Fire
Forecasting System are to be developed in
the country.
• Fast initial attack measures.
• Vigorous follow up action.
• Firefighting resources.

30. • Each of the above components plays an
important role in the success of the entire
system of fire management. Special
emphasis is to be given to research, training,
and development.
• Precautions
• The followings are the important precautions
against fire:
• To keep the source of fire or source of ignition
separated from combustible and inflammable
material.
• To keep the source of fire under watch and
control.

31. • Not allow combustible or inflammable
material to pile up unnecessarily
• and to stock the plant materials as per
procedure recommended for safe storage of
such combustible or inflammable material.

32. • To incorporate fire reducing and fire
fighting techniques and equipment
• In case of forest fires, the volunteer teams
are essential not only for fire fighting but
also to keep watch on the start of forest
and sound an alert
• To arrange fire fighting drills frequently.

33. Biological Disasters

34. Biological Disasters
• Biological disaster is caused by biological
agents
• Biological agents are living organisms
(bacteria, virus, fungus) and their toxic
products that can kill people, livestock, and
plants or cause epidemics, health impacts,
property damage, social and economic
disruption, or environmental damage.

35. Bio-Terrorism
• Bio-terrorism can be defined as the use of
biological agents to cause death, disability or
damage mainly to human beings.
• Bio-terrorism is a method of terrorist activity to
create mass panic and slow mass casualties.
• The three basic groups of biological agents,
which could be used as biological weapons,
are bacteria, viruses, and toxins.
• The expense of producing biological weapons
is far less than that of other weapon systems.
• Bioweapons - poor man’s nuclear bomb’

36. Trends Favoring Biological Weapons
Low cost and widespread availability
More efficient in terms of coverage
Advances in biotechnology have made
production easy
Agents are largely natural pathogens
Have an unmatched destructive potential

37. Methods of bio-logical agent dissemination
and delivery:
• Aerosols - biological agents are dispersed
into the air, forming a fine mist that may
drift for miles. Inhaling the agent may
cause epidemic diseases in human beings
or animals.
• Animals – some diseases are spread by
insects and animals, such as mice, flies,
mosquitoes, and livestock.
• 

38. • Food and water contamination - some
pathogenic organisms and toxins may persist
in food and water supplies.
• Most microbes can be killed, and toxins
deactivated, by cooking food and boiling
water.
• Most microbes are killed by boiling water for
one minute, but some require longer.
• Person-to-person - spread of a few infectious
agents is also possible.
• Humans have been the source of infection for
smallpox, plague, etc.

39. Various categories of biological agents potential enough
to cause mass casualties:
1.Anthrax
2.Smallpox
3.Plague
4.Botulinism Toxin

40. Anthrax
Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by
gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as
Bacillus anthracis.
Contact with anthrax can cause severe illness in
both humans and animals.
Anthrax is not contagious, which means you can’t
catch it like the cold or flu.

42. • Anthrax makes an ideal biological
weapon. If used as a biological weapon,
smallpox represents a serious threat to
civilian population because of its case
fatality rate of 30% or more among
unvaccinated persons and the absence of
specific therapy.

44. SMALLPOX
Smallpox is a very serious illness caused by a virus
called the variola virus.
Smallpox gets its name from the pus-filled blisters (or
pocks) that form during the illness .
Smallpox is contagious.
Smallpox usually passes from person to person during
close, face-to-face contact.
Smallpox has long been considered as the most devastating of all
infectious diseases.
Transmission of this virus can occur by aerosol, by direct contact
with the infected patient.

46. Plague
• Plague is a disease that results from
infection by non-motile, gram-negative
coccobacillus Yersinia pestis.
• This can cause devastation.

49. Botulism
Botulism can be caused by canned foods . These
foods need to be cooked at very high temperatures
to kill the germs.
Clostridium botulinum could cause botulism in the
people who eat the food.
These bacteria release a poison, called a toxin.
This toxin travels through the blood to attach to the
nerves that control muscles.

50. • A toxin is any toxic substance that can be
produced in an animal, plant, or microbe.
• The toxins produce serious disease in
human beings.
• Botulism or Botulinum toxins are deadly.
• Mass casualties can be produced through
contamination of food source or by aerosol
dissemination.

51. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
E. coli O157:H7
Bacteria: Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
Salmonella spp.,
Staphylococus
B. Stearothermophilus

52. • Dengue: It is an acute, infectious,
mosquito- borne hemorrhagic fever.
Besides fever, the disease is
characterized by an extreme pain and
stiffness of the joints.
• Dengue is caused by a virus transmitted
through a mosquito called Asian tiger
mosquito.

53. • Mad Cow Disease (Bovine spongiform
encephalopathy)
• Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or
mad cow disease) in cattle is caused by an
infectious agent that has a long incubation
period, between two and five years.
• Death usually follows within a year of the
onset of symptoms.
• First recognized in cattle in the United
Kingdom in 1986, Mad cow disease (BSE)
became epidemic there, particularly in
southern England.

54. Major Events across the Globe
• Biological warfare has a long history of mass
destruction through epidemic and pandemic
diseases.
• The 1918 influenza pandemic killed an
estimated 7 million people in India.
• Limited biological warfare is reported to have
been carried out by Japan during World War-
II.
• Mycotoxins have been reported to be used in
Afghanistan.

55. • Beginning in mid-September 2001,
the USA experienced unprecedented
biological attacks involving the
intentional distribution of bacillus
anthracis spores through the postal
system.

56. • Intentional Use of Biological agents
• Japan used plague bacilli in China during 1932-
1945 causing 260,000 deaths
• Dispersal of anthrax spores due to accident in
production unit in USSR caused 68 deaths in
1979
• In 1984, Osho followers used Salmonella
typhimurium in salad in a restaurant in Oregaon,
USA leading to 751 cases
• Shigella dysenteriae Type 2 employed in Texas,
USA in 1996

57. Prevention & Mitigation Measures:
• 1.The general population should be educated
and the made aware of the threats and risks
associated with it.
• Only cooked food and
boiled/chlorinated/filtered water should be
consumed
• Insects and rodents control measures must
be initiated immediately.
• Clinical isolation of suspected and confirmed
cases is essential.

58. • 2. An early accurate diagnosis is the key
to manage casualties of biological warfare.
Therefore, a network of specialised
laboratories should be established for a
confirmatory laboratory diagnosis.
• 3. Existing disease surveillance system as
well as vector control measures to be
pursued more rigorously.
• Mass immunization programme in the
suspected area be more vigorously
followed up.

59. • 5. Enhancing the knowledge and skills of
clinicians plays a vital role in controlling
the adverse impact of the attack.
• In biological attack, one should cover
mouth and nose with layers of fabric that
can filter air.

60. Contingency plan for dealing with the
epidemics that are likely to occur in the
region.
Early warning system and regular
surveillance are primary requirements so
as to mount an effective control response
in early stages to prevent any outbreaks.

61. • Steps for effectively tackling biological
disasters:
Setting up emergency health service.
Preparing a contingency plan.
Training of personnel to deal with such
emergencies.
Awareness camps for epidemic prone
areas.

62. • 100 gram of anthrax can cause 3
million causalities.

63. Do’s And Don’t’s In A Biological Attack
Before:
 Children and older adults are particularly
vulnerable to biological agents.
Ensure from a doctor/the nearest hospital that all
the required or suggested immunizations are up to
date.

64. During:
 In the event of a biological attack, close the doors and
windows .
 Watch television, listen to radio, or check the Internet
for official news and information.
 The first evidence of an attack may be when you
notice symptoms of the disease caused by exposure to
an agent.
 Use common sense and practice good hygiene.

65. In case of an unusual and suspicious substance nearby:
Move away quickly.
Cover your head and nose.
 Listen to the media for official instructions.
 Seek medical attention if you become sick.
If you are exposed to a biological agent:
 Ultra efficient filter masks can be used.
Follow official instructions for disposal of contaminated items
such as bag and cloths.
Take bath with soap and put on clean clothes.
Seek medical assistance.
 If required and advised, stay away from others or even
quarantined.

66. After:
•
•Pay close attention to all official warnings and
instructions on how to proceed.
•The basic public health procedures and medical
protocols for handling exposure to biological agents are
the same as for any infectious disease.
•Pay attention to official instructions via radio, television,
and emergency alert systems.

67. Policy
• The central government would support the
state in terms of guidance, technical expertise,
and with human and material logistic support.
• All the states should develop their own
policies, plans and guidelines for managing
biological disasters in accordance with the
national guidelines.
• Sound infrastructure is necessary for medical
countermeasures, creating awareness among
the public, developing human resources,
logistic support and R&D for evolving novel
technologies.

68. Chemical Disasters

69. Chemical Disaster
• The chemical disaster is defined as a severe
chemical accident that causes large-scale
damage to an environment and/or injuries to or
death of many animals, plants, or humans.

70. • A chemical is known to be hazardous by
possessing one or more of the following
• characteristics:
Flammable and/or explosive
Toxic
Highly reactive
Corrosive
Radioactive

71. Chemical and industrial emergencies may
arise in a number of ways:
explosion in a plant handling or producing
toxic substances
accidents in storage facilities handling
large and various quantities of chemicals
accidents during the transportation of
chemicals from one site to another
misuse of chemicals, resulting in
contamination of food stocks or the
environment, overdosing of agrochemicals

72. improper waste management such as
uncontrolled dumping of toxic
chemicals, failure in waste management
systems or accidents in wastewater
treatment plants
technological system failures
failures of plant safety design or plant
components
 natural hazards such as fire,
earthquakes, landslides
 human error

73. • Frequency and severity of chemical
disasters has increased in last few years
due to rapid development of chemical
industries of a wider range – manufacturing
& formulation, petro-chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, agro-chemicals –
fertilizers, pesticides, industrial chemicals,
and facilities that store hazardous
chemicals – oil depots, exploration/mining
and beneficiation sites, ports, docks,
treatment plants, power, etc.

74. Major chemical (industrial) disasters:
• Following the Bhopal Gas Disaster in 1984, major
incidences of chemical disasters in India include a fire in
an oil well in Andhra Pradesh (2003); a vapour cloud
explosion in the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
Limited Refinery (HPCL), Vishakhapatnam (1997); and
an explosion in the Indian Petrochemicals Corporation
Limited (IPCL), Gas Cracker Complex, Nagothane,
Maharashtra and recent Jaipur Fire in 2009. Bhopal Gas
Tragedy (1984) is noted as the worst industrial
(chemical) disaster in the history, besides Minemata
(1956), Sevaso (1976), Three Mile Island (1979),
Chernobyl (1986) among a long list of major
technological disasters.

75. Some high impact world-wide chemical disasters
• Flixborough, Nypro UK (1st
June. 1974)
Chemical released was cyclohexane due to which 28
persons died, 36 were injured. The plant was completely
demolished and over 1821 houses and 167 factories
suffered tremendous losses.
• Seveso, Italy (10th
July 1976)
Chemical released was 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin) which has
resulted in the death about 1.0 lakhs animals, evacuation
of 760 persons and contamination of an area of about
4,450 acres.

76. Bhopal Disaster (3rd
December, 1984)
• About 45 tonnes of methyl isocyanide
(MIC) gas leaked into the atmosphere
killing more than 2500 people and injured
about 1,00,000 persons. .

77. • Fire
• Explosion
• Toxic Release
• Combination
of the above

80. Effects of a Chemical Disaster
• If the chemical is in gaseous form the
geographical spread is fast and wide .
• Many people may die either due to
mechanical damage from explosion or fire
or due to toxicity of the poisonous
chemicals.
• The routes of exposure to chemical
released from an accidents are from
inhalation, eye exposure, skin contact and
ingestion.

81. • The immediate effects include death or
other symptoms like dizziness, headache,
irritation etc.
• The long term effects may include cancer,
heart failure, brain damage, disfunction of
immune system, deformation, genetic
disorders or congenital(by birth) disorders
in children.

82. Inventory of hazardous chemicals
• It is important to have an inventory of
hazardous chemicals along with their
quality, storage locations, characteristics
along with possible hazard associated with
hazardous chemicals and this informed all
employees and people living in the
neighbourhood should informed about the
potential risk.

83. • The inventory as far as possible high risk
areas demarcated and displayed along
with indicating affected zone and safe
routes for evacuation in the event of
emergency.
• Location of industries
• Industries should not be sited in residential
areas. A large buffer zone, in form of a
green belt, for separating an industrial
area from residential areas.

84. Community preparedness
• The community should be aware of the
hazardous installations and know how to
combat the situation.
• Some members of the community should
monitor the potential risk and participate in
safety training organized by industries.

85. • Other measures
• Improve firefighting capability, warning
systems and measures for preventing
pollution dispersion.
• Develop emergency relief and evacuation
• planning for employees and nearby
settlements.
• Adopt insurance for employees and
surrounding population which is
mandatory under the law.

86. Emergency ProceduresEmergency Procedures
 Training of employeesTraining of employees
 Rehearsal of the planRehearsal of the plan
 10 % of workers shall be trained in first aid10 % of workers shall be trained in first aid
and fire fightingand fire fighting
 Information on chInformation on chemicals to physicianemicals to physician

87. Levels of Crisis Group
• Central Crisis Group
• State Crisis Group
• District Crisis Group
• Local Crisis Group

88. Chairmen of Crisis Groups
• Central Crisis Group ---- Secy, MOEF
• State Crisis Groups ---- Chief Secretary
• District Crisis Groups ---- District
Collector
• Local Crisis Groups ---- Sub Divisional
Magistrate

89. Periodicity of Meeting
• Central Crisis Group --- once in six
months
• State Crisis Group ---- once in 3
months
• District Crisis Group ---- once in 45 days
• Local Crisis Group ---- Every month

90. Central Crisis Group-- Functions
• Monitoring post accident situation
• Post accident analysis and response
• Review district offsite emergency plan
• State wise list of experts
• Financial and infrastructural assistance
to States

91. State Crisis Group --- Functions
• Review district offsite emergency plan
• Assists in managing chemical accidents
at site
• Monitoring post accident situation
• Review progress report of District Crisis
Groups
• Publish list of experts

92. Functions of DCG
• Apex body in the district to deal with major
chemical accidents
• To provide expert guidance for handling chemical
accidents.
• Assist in the preparation of the off-site emergency
plan
• Review all the on-site emergency plans
• Assist the district administration in the
management of chemical accidents
• Continuously monitor every chemical accident
• Ensure continuous information flow from the
district to the Central and State Crisis Groups

93. Local Crisis Groups--- Functions
• Preparation of local emergency plan for the
industrial pocket
• Train personnel involved in chemical accident
management
• Educating public
• One full scale mock drill every six months

94. Nuclear Disaster

95. Nuclear Disaster
Nuclear disaster is due to meltdown nuclear
reactor plant, release of massive amounts of
radiation and radioactive material into the
environment. It may be due to human error,
system failure, earthquake, cyclone, flood,
etc.
The spontaneous emission of particles and
rays by an unstable nucleus is called
Radioactivity and such substances are
called Radioactive Substances eg. Radium,
Uranium, Thorium.

97. • When the impact of a nuclear or
radiological emergency, caused by a
nuclear attack (as happened at
Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan,
1945) or large-scale release of
radioactivity from nuclear/radiological
facilities (eg. Chernobyl in Ukraine) is
very high, it assumes the dimension of
a nuclear disaster leading to mass
casualties and destruction of large
areas and property.

98. • On August 6, 1945, during World War II
(1939-45), an American B-29 bomber
dropped the world’s first deployed atomic
bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
The explosion wiped out 90 percent of the
city and immediately killed 80,000 people;
tens of thousands more would later die of
radiation exposure. Three days later, a
second B-29 dropped another A-bomb on
Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000
people.

99. • Radiation Energy emitted from a radioactive
atom/source is known as radiation.
• The three main types of radiations emitted
by radioactive substances are alpha (),
beta () rays and photons (x-ray and
gamma () rays).
• Gray (Gy): The special name for the SI unit
of absorbed dose: 1 Gy = 1 J · Kg-1

100. • The radioactive substances are both
natural as well as man-made.
• Exposure to radiation can be reduced by
applying the principles of Time, Distance
and Shielding.

101. Protection from Radiation
1. Minimize Time
2. Maximize Distance
3. Maximize Shielding
Three rules for protection from radiation:

102. Indications of a Radiological Event
• Explosive release of fine powder
or solid material
• Skin reddening
• Headaches
• Nausea & vomiting
• Hair loss
• Weakened immune system
Explosions and symptoms of high radiation
doses indicate a radiological attack.

103. • To combat this, proper emergency
preparedness plans must be in place so
that there is minimum avoidable loss of life,
livelihood, property and impact on the
environment.
• To provide first aid and treatment of
injuries;
• reduce the psychological impact on the
population; and
• protect the environment and property, all
under the constraint of available resources.

104. • Today there are about 440 nuclear power
reactors operating in 31 countries, meeting
16% of the world’s electricity needs, with
contribution in some countries ranging from
20% to 70%. As on date, 17 power reactors
and five research reactors are in operation
in India, six power reactors are under
construction, and plans exist to set up
thorium-based reactors to meet the ever-
increasing energy needs.

105. Artificial Sources of Radiation
• Medical Equipment
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Industrial instruments
• Food irradiation facilities
• Nuclear research laboratories
• University research reactors
• Nuclear weapons
• Nuclear power plants
Only artificial sources pose a significant threat.

106. • Nuclear Power Reactor: A reactor where
heat energy is released in the nuclear fuel
placed inside the reactor by the process of
nuclear fission to produce steam for the
generation of electric power.
• Further, India uses nuclear radiation in a
variety of applications in the fields of
medicine, industry, agriculture and
research.

107. Application in Food Preservation

108. Food Dosage Purpose
Approved in
Canada?
Potatoes 0.15 kGy max. Sprout inhibition Yes
Onions 0.15 kGy max. Sprout inhibition Yes
Pork 0.3 to 1.0 kGy Trichinella spiralis
No, approved in the
US
Wheat, Flour, Whole
Wheat Flour
0.75 kGy max.
Insect infestation
control
Yes
Fruit and Vegetables 1.0 kGy max.
Disinfestation,
ripening delay
No, approved in the
US
Fresh Shell Eggs 3.0 kGy max. Salmonella control
No, approved in the
US
Dehydrated
Seasoning
Preparations
10.00 kGy max. Microbial control Yes

112. Radura

113. • Mitigation Measures
• Defence-in-depth helps to ensure that the
three basic safety functions, viz: controlling
the power, cooling the fuel and confining the
radioactive material, are preserved and that
even in case of an emergency, radioactive
materials do not reach the public or the
environment.
• The defence-in-depth concept is centred
around several levels of protection, including
successive barriers, preventing the release of
radioactive materials into the environment.
•

114. • Nuclear reactors must be enclosed in broad
concrete walls to prevent the radiations that
emerge out.
• Workers should wear protective garments and
glass spectacles should be screened from
radiation.
• Extreme care should be exercised in the disposal
of industrial waste contaminated with
radionuclides.
• The spend rods are very radioactive containing
about 1% U 235 and 1% plutonim.

115. Radiation Detection
•Can not be seen
•Can not be smelled
•Can not be tasted
•Can not be felt
•Can be rapidly detected by
instruments!

116. Alpha Survey Meter
Radiation Detectors
Beta and Gamma
Survey Meter

117. • Contaminated patient –
immediately isolated until
monitored & decontaminated
• Cover all wounds
• Radiation burns are like sun
burns
Management

118. • Risk Assessment Concepts:
• Hazard Mapping and Risk Assessment is
the first step towards the development of
an effective plan at the industry level, local
level (at the industrial cluster) or at the
district level.
• Risk Assessment is simply a careful
examination of whatever that could cause
harm, so that one can determine what
precaution or controls are necessary to
prevent harm.

119. • Risk Assessment helps in forecasting any
unwanted situation, estimating damage
potential of such situation, effective
decision making to control such situation
and evaluating effectiveness of control
measures. In order to prevent a hazard
from becoming a disaster and to minimize
the likely impacts on human life, property
and environment, it is necessary to assess
all possible hazardous consequences and
to delineate the mitigation measures for all
the probable off-site emergencies.

120. Government Initiatives On Disaster Management
• The Government of India has set up a
National Committee on Disaster
Management (NCDM) under the
Chairmanship of the Prime Minister.
• National Committee would form the basis
of national disaster risk management
programme and strengthening the natural
disaster management and response
mechanisms.

121. • United Nations Development Programmes
(UNDP) has also been supporting various
initiatives of the government to strengthen
disaster management capacities.
• The programme components would include
the following:
• Development of state and district disaster
management plans.
• Development of disaster risk management
and response plans at Village/ Ward, Gram
• Panchayat, Block/Urban Local Body levels.

122. • Constitutions of Disaster Management
Teams and Committees at all levels with
• adequate representation of women in all
committees and team. (Village/ Ward,
Gram Panchayat, Block/Urban local body,
District and State.)
• Capacity Building of Disaster
management Teams at all levels.
• Special training for women in first aid,
shelter management, water and
sanitation, rescue and evacuation, etc.

123. Nodal Agencies for Disaster Management
 Floods : Ministry of Water Resources
 Cyclones : Indian Meteorological Department
 Earthquakes : Indian Meteorological Department
 Epidemics : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
 Avian Flu: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment,
Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
 Chemical Disasters : Ministry of Environment and
Forests
 Industrial Disasters : Ministry of Labour
 Rail Accidents : Ministry of Railways
 Air Accidents : Ministry of Civil Aviation
 Fire : Ministry of Home Affairs
 Nuclear Incidents : Department of Atomic Energy
 Mine Disasters : Department of Mines

124. New Directions for Disaster Management in India
• The National Disaster Management Authority
(NDMA) has been set up as the apex body for
Disaster Management in India, with the Prime
Minister as its Chairman.
• Disaster Management Authorities will be set up
at the State and District Levels to be headed by
the Chief Ministers and Collectors/Zilla Parishad
Chairmen respectively.