Reforming India’s Disaster Strategy

• 19 Feb 2025

This editorial is based on “Bill to amend Disaster Management Act: a proposed solution involving the States” which was published in The Hindu on 18/02/2025. The article brings into picture the growing tensions between the Centre and states over disaster relief funding, highlighting delays and inadequate allocations. It underscores the need for a transparent, equitable, and depoliticized disaster management framework to ensure timely recovery.

For Prelims: National Disaster Response Force, Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Cyclone Michaung, Indian Meteorological Department,  Glacial Lake Outburst Floods, Earthquake, Antibiotic resistance, Heatwave, National Building Code (NBC), 2016, MGNREGA, Jal Shakti Abhiyan 

For Mains: Key Disaster Threats India is Facing,  Key Structural Issues in India’s Disaster Management Strategy.

India’s disaster relief funding system has become a point of contention between the Centre and states, as seen in Tamil Nadu’s recent struggle for adequate National Disaster Response Force assistance post-cyclone. While states face rising climate-induced disasters, delays and insufficient allocations from the SDRF and NDRF hinder timely recovery efforts. Legislative proposals like the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aim to enhance transparency and ensure proportional state representation in decision-making. As extreme weather events escalate, India urgently needs a resilient and depoliticized disaster management system. 

What are the Key Disaster Threats India is Facing?  

• Increasing Frequency of Extreme Weather Events: India is witnessing a surge in climate-induced disasters such as cyclones, floods, and heatwaves, driven by rising global temperatures and erratic monsoon patterns.  
  • The warming of the Indian Ocean is intensifying cyclones, while shifting monsoon trends are causing unpredictable droughts and floods.  
  • Cyclone Michaung (2023) caused ₹37,000 crore losses in Tamil Nadu; 2023 floods in Himachal Pradesh led to ₹10,000 crore damage.  
    • India reported 2,227 casualties due to extreme weather events in 2022 (IMD, 2024). 
• Urban Flooding Due to Poor Infrastructure: Unplanned urbanization, clogged drainage systems, and disappearing wetlands have turned seasonal rains into devastating urban floods.  
  • Cities like Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru face severe water logging due to concretization and poor stormwater management.  
    • For instance, Delhi recorded its highest single-day rainfall (153 mm) in 41 years in July 2023, leading to Yamuna flooding and widespread traffic disruption.  
    • In 2022, Bengaluru suffered a loss of Rs 2.25 billion due to flooding. 
• Droughts and Water Scarcity Affecting Agriculture: Erratic monsoons, rising temperatures, and groundwater depletion are making droughts more frequent and severe.  
  • India’s over-reliance on monsoon-dependent farming makes its food security highly vulnerable.  
  • Inefficient irrigation practices and delays in implementing climate-resilient agriculture are compounding the crisis. 
  • Indian Meteorological Department declared 2023’s August as the driest in 122 years, severely impacting Kharif crop yields.  
    • Also, according to a recent estimate by the World Wide Fund for Nature, 30 Indian towns would face a "severe water risk" by 2050. 
• Himalayan Glacial Melting and Flash Floods: Rising global temperatures are accelerating glacier retreat in the Himalayas, increasing the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and landslides.  
  • Infrastructure projects like hydropower dams and highways in fragile Himalayan regions worsen the situation.  
    • The absence of early warning systems and disaster-resilient infrastructure leads to significant human and economic losses. 
  • In October 2023, a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) from North Sikkim's South Lhonak Lake burst, leading to widespread destruction. 
• Rising Sea Levels and Coastal Erosion: India’s 7,500 km coastline is increasingly vulnerable to rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and saline water intrusion.  
  • Unchecked sand mining, port expansion, and mangrove destruction are worsening the situation.  
    • Despite India’s Climate Action Plan, coastal resilience efforts remain slow. 
  • According to a study by National Centre for Coastal Research, (NCCR), about 33.6% of the coast is eroding. 
• Earthquakes in High-Risk Zones: India sits on multiple seismic zones, making northern and northeastern states highly earthquake-prone.  
  • Poor enforcement of building codes and outdated infrastructure increase the disaster impact.  
    • The lack of retrofitting policies for old buildings and critical infrastructure makes earthquake preparedness weak. 
  • The 6.4 magnitude Assam earthquake (2021) caused widespread structural damage.  
    • Recent tremors in Delhi-NCR, with a potential epicenter near Dhaula Kuan, highlight growing seismic threats. 
• Industrial and Chemical Disasters: Rapid industrial expansion without stringent safety compliance is increasing chemical disasters and gas leaks.  
  • Poor regulatory oversight and outdated technology in hazardous industries amplify risks.  
  • The Vizag LG Polymers gas leak led to many casualties. Delhi’s Mundka factory fire (2022), highlighting poor industrial safety standards. 
• Biological Disasters and Public Health Crises: Pandemics, zoonotic diseases, and antimicrobial resistance pose long-term disaster risks.  
  • Rising pollution, deforestation, and climate change are increasing the frequency of vector-borne diseases.  
    • The Covid-19 pandemic exposed gaps in India’s healthcare infrastructure, underscoring the need for stronger disease surveillance. 
  • India has been identified as a hotspot of emerging antibiotic resistance owing to excessive use to antibiotics in both domestic animals and humans 

What are the Key Structural Issues in India’s Disaster Management Strategy?  

• Overcentralization and Delayed Fund Disbursal: India’s disaster management remains highly centralized, with states dependent on the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), leading to delays and inefficiencies.  
  • States often struggle with inadequate State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) allocations, limiting their capacity for timely relief and rehabilitation.  
  • Tamil Nadu has recently  urged the Union government to release ₹6,675 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) so that the State can carry out the relief and restoration work required after Cyclone Fengal.  
• Weak Local Governance and Implementation Gaps: Despite the Disaster Management Act, 2005, local authorities remain underfunded and lack decision-making power, making disaster response slow and ineffective.  
  • Many districts have inactive or non-functional District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) due to lack of trained personnel and technical capacity. 
    • Even disaster-prone states lack proper risk assessment and preparedness plans at the grassroots level. 
  • During the 2023 Himachal Pradesh floods, lack of district-level coordination led to slow relief operations, delaying aid for thousands. 
• Outdated Early Warning Systems and Poor Forecasting: India's early warning systems (EWS) suffer from technological gaps, poor last-mile connectivity, and inaccurate forecasting, leading to delayed evacuations and higher casualties.  
  • While IMD issues warnings, they are often not specific or localized enough, making it difficult for authorities to take timely preventive measures.  
    • Many rural and tribal communities remain out of reach of real-time alerts, increasing their vulnerability.  
    • Infrastructural limitations, such as insufficient Doppler radar coverage, further weaken prediction capabilities. 
  • The South Lhonak Lake GLOF in Sikkim (2023) had no proper early warning system, leading to many casualties and massive infrastructure loss.  
    • Also, an estimated 72% of districts in India are exposed to extreme flood events but only 25% of them have level flood forecasting stations 
• Inadequate Urban Planning and Infrastructure Resilience: Rapid, unplanned urbanization has made cities highly vulnerable to flooding, earthquakes, and heatwaves, with weak building codes and poor drainage systems worsening disasters.  
  • Retrofitting of old structures remains neglected, increasing the risk of casualties during disasters like earthquakes.  
    • Poor enforcement of the National Building Code (NBC), 2016, allows developers to ignore disaster-resistant construction standards. 
  • A recent  study found that over 80% of Delhi’s buildings are vulnerable to a major earthquake due to poor adherence to NBC guidelines. 
• Insufficient Community Awareness and Preparedness: Despite India’s high disaster vulnerability, public awareness about disaster preparedness remains low, especially in rural and marginalized communities.  
  • Lack of disaster drills, education programs, and evacuation training leads to high casualties and inefficient crisis response.  
  • The absence of inclusive disaster policies means that vulnerable groups—women, elderly, disabled people—are often left out of preparedness plans.  
• Limited Use of Technology and Innovation: India’s disaster management relies heavily on traditional response mechanisms, with slow adoption of AI, remote sensing, and GIS mapping for disaster prediction and relief.  
  • Blockchain and satellite imagery could enhance real-time damage assessment and faster fund disbursal, but implementation remains limited.  
  • Lack of inter-agency data sharing and integration of smart technologies weakens decision-making and coordination.  
  • While countries like Japan use AI-based tsunami prediction models, India’s coastal EWS still relies on conventional sensors. 
• Fragmented Disaster Health Management: Disaster-hit areas often face severe shortages of emergency medical facilities, trauma care centers, and trained healthcare professionals, worsening post-disaster mortality.  
  • Many state disaster plans lack dedicated public health response strategies, making them reactive rather than preventive.  
  • Heatwaves, pandemics, and chemical disasters require specialized healthcare responses, but coordination between NDMA and the Health Ministry remains weak.  
    • Mobile hospitals and telemedicine solutions are underutilized in disaster-affected regions. 
  • During the 2024 Odisha heatwave, over 26 lives were lost in 24 hours, with many hospitals lacking adequate emergency cooling facilities. 

What Measures to Strengthen India’s Disaster Management System?  

• Decentralized Disaster Governance and Fund Allocation: Empower State and District Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs & DDMAs) with autonomy in fund utilization to ensure faster response.  
  • Establish a formula-based, impact-driven NDRF allocation mechanism to avoid political interference and delays.  
  • Strengthen local governance frameworks by integrating disaster risk reduction (DRR) into Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and urban local bodies (ULBs). 
  • Increase flexibility in SDRF utilization to allow states to respond to evolving disaster risks.  
• Strengthening Early Warning Systems and Real-Time Monitoring: Upgrade Doppler radar networks, satellite imaging, and AI-based predictive analytics to enhance localized and accurate forecasting.  
  • Implement automated alert systems via SMS, social media, and mobile networks for last-mile connectivity, especially in rural and tribal regions.  
  • Develop a multi-hazard early warning system (MHEWS) covering floods, cyclones, earthquakes, and heatwaves in an integrated manner.  
  • Promote community-based early warning dissemination through local volunteer networks. 
• Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and Urban Planning Reforms: Implement strict enforcement of the National Building Code (NBC), 2016, ensuring all new constructions are earthquake, flood, and cyclone-resistant.  
  • Promote nature-based solutions like wetland restoration, mangrove plantations, and permeable urban surfaces to mitigate urban flooding. 
  • Mandate risk-sensitive land-use planning by integrating disaster vulnerability assessments into Smart City and AMRUT projects.  
  • Encourage disaster-resilient retrofitting of old buildings, bridges, and dams, especially in seismic zones.  
    • Introduce green infrastructure incentives to promote sustainable urbanization. 
• Enhancing Community Awareness and Disaster Preparedness: Integrate disaster risk education into school and university curricula to foster a culture of preparedness. 
  • Conduct regular disaster drills, mock evacuations, and awareness campaigns at community and workplace levels.  
  • Strengthen Self Help Groups (SHGs), local NGOs, and citizen response teams to act as first responders in disaster-prone regions.  
  • Use vernacular media, traditional knowledge systems, and digital outreach for more effective risk communication.  
• Leveraging Technology and Innovation for Disaster Management: Expand the use of AI, blockchain, and GIS-based decision support systems for real-time disaster risk assessment.  
  • Deploy IoT-based smart sensors in dams, bridges, and landslide-prone areas to detect early signs of failure.  
    • Strengthen drone-based disaster mapping and emergency supply delivery for faster relief operations.  
  • Develop integrated disaster management mobile applications that provide real-time alerts, evacuation routes, and emergency contacts. 
• Strengthening Healthcare and Post-Disaster Response Mechanisms: Establish mobile emergency hospitals and rapid medical response teams in disaster hotspots.  
  • Equip primary health centers (PHCs) and district hospitals with heatwave, flood, and pandemic preparedness protocols.  
  • Train paramedics, ASHA workers, and disaster volunteers in mass casualty management and psychological first aid.  
  • Stockpile emergency medical supplies, vaccines, and portable diagnostic tools for quicker post-disaster interventions.  
• Institutional Reforms and Inter-Agency Coordination: Enhance coordination between IMD, ISRO, NDMA, and NDRF through a unified National Emergency Coordination Hub (NECH).  
  • Train bureaucrats, first responders, and law enforcement personnel in modern disaster response protocols.  
  • Promote inter-ministerial collaboration for synchronized climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction efforts.  
    • Ensure real-time intelligence sharing among scientific institutions, disaster response forces, and local governments. 
• Strengthening Financial Resilience and Disaster Insurance Mechanisms: Expand state-level catastrophe risk insurance schemes to cover crop loss, property damage, and livelihood disruptions.  
  • Develop parametric insurance models to provide automatic compensation based on predefined disaster triggers.  
  • Encourage corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for disaster risk reduction projects.  
  • Establish a dedicated National Resilience Fund (NRF) to support climate adaptation and pre-disaster mitigation strategies.  
    • Incentivize micro-insurance programs for vulnerable communities, reducing post-disaster economic shocks. 
• Promoting Nature-Based Solutions and Ecosystem Restoration: Implement large-scale afforestation and wetland conservation projects to enhance natural flood control and climate resilience.  
  • Strengthen coastal zone management by restoring mangroves, coral reefs, and sand dunes to protect against storm surges and erosion.  
  • Promote sustainable agriculture and water conservation to mitigate drought risks.  
  • Integrate disaster resilience into MGNREGA and Jal Shakti Abhiyan for long-term ecological sustainability.  
• Ensuring Faster Rehabilitation and Livelihood Recovery: Develop pre-approved disaster recovery frameworks to streamline post-disaster reconstruction efforts. 
  • Strengthen livelihood diversification programs to help disaster-affected populations regain economic stability. 
  • Implement fast-track housing reconstruction schemes with climate-resilient designs in disaster-prone areas. 
  • Establish psycho-social support programs to help trauma-affected survivors recover faster.  
    • Promote local entrepreneurship and vocational training to rebuild economies in disaster-hit regions. 

Conclusion:  

India's disaster management system must evolve into a decentralized, technology-driven, and climate-resilient framework to address escalating threats. Strengthening early warning systems, community preparedness, and sustainable infrastructure is crucial for reducing disaster impacts. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) emphasizes a proactive approach, focusing on risk mitigation, resilient recovery, and inclusive governance. 

Drishti Mains Question:

Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of natural disasters in India. Analyze how climate resilience and disaster preparedness can be integrated into India’s governance framework.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)  

Mains

Q. Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (2020)

Q. Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters. (2019)

Q. Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing ‘Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-30)’. How is this framework different from ‘Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005’? (2018)