India’s geo-environmental settings, ecological fragility as well as its high degree of socio-economic vulnerability make it one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. During the last 30 years time span the country has faced more than 430 disasters resulting into enormous loss to life, environment and economy. Indian land is highly vulnerable to floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, avalanche, forest fires, pest-attack, pandemic, industrial/chemical disasters. Mishaps of the recent past like urban floods, oilspills, radioactive waste, dam breach floods, epidemics, building collapse, building fire, bomb blast, stampede have added the complexity of the challenge. Increasing incidences and resulting damages due to road and rail mishaps are adding dimensions to disaster risk. Understanding a disaster’s origin matters as key to disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and to strategize disaster management preparedness
