Natural Disasters in India
from 1980 – 2010
No of events:
431
No of people
killed:
143,039
Average killed
per year:
No of people
affected:
4,614
1,521,726,127
Average affected
per year:
49,087,940
Economic
Damage (US$ X
1,000):
48,063,830
Economic
Damage per year
(US$ X 1,000):
1,550,446
Vulnerability of states
Source: Preventionweb
The above table shows the
susceptibility of India in the context
of natural hazard induced disasters
and the high economic impact
compared to other developing
nations of the world. The direct
losses from natural disasters have
been estimated to amount to up to
2 percent of India’s GDP and up to
12 percent of central government
revenues (World Bank 2003 and
2009).
It also means that the
developmental gains (economic,
physical, social and environment)
attained over several years are
wiped out during the recurrent
events. Disaster exposes the
cumulative implications of many
decisions some taken individually,
others collectively and a few by
default (World Bank and UN 2011).
The impact on human beings
disaggregated hazard wise reveal
more about the damages being
caused.
40
During 1967-2006, more than
52 percent of the disasters that
occurred in India were due to
floods, followed by cyclones
(23 percent), and earthquakes
and landslides accounting for 11
percent each. However, maximum
number of casualties occurred due
to earthquakes, followed by floods
and cyclones. The data on people
affected shows that maximum
number of people is affected
by droughts. The very nature of
drought has long lasting effects.
The only document that reflects
the detailed hazard profile of the
states in India is the Vulnerability
Atlas prepared by the Building
M a t e r i a l s a n d Te c h n o l o g y
Promotion Centre (BMTPC). The
Atlas produced by BMTPC in 1997
was revised in 2006 with latest
information available on various
hazards. This Atlas also captures
the physical vulnerability. States
such as Uttar Pradesh may be
highly flood prone, but not high on
Cyclones. Given the complications
in comparing states, the Working
Group on Disa