Karnataka Natural Hazard and related aspect

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The history of disasters in Karnataka reveals that a series of various types of disasters that have struck the State over the years with devastating effects. Years 2005 and 2006 have seen devastating floods in the Districts of Gulbarga, Belgaum, Bijapur, Bidar, Bagalkot, Raichur etc., as a result of outflow of excess water from the Krishna and Bhima Basins from Maharashtra particularly from Koyna Reservoir. These floods have affected 12 lakh people, 20,000 houses (damaged), 1.6 Lakhs hectares crops (damaged). The assessment of loss on account of damage due to floods was estimated at Rs. 1565 Crores. Other districts namely Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Mangalore, Shimoga, Kodagu, Chikkamagalur have also faced flood damages.

Seismic observatories in Mysore, Somwarpet Taluk, Chincholi Taluk including a permanent station at Gulbarga are set up to monitor the magnitude of seismic waves in Karnataka. 11 districts in the state namely Bidar, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Belgaum, Dharwad, Uttar Kannada, Shimaoga, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu are falling under seismic zone III. A total 42.173 Lakh hectares (22.13%) of the total geographical area of Karnataka is under moderate earthquake damage risk zone III (MSK VII) & remaining area of the state is under low damage risk zone.

Major part of the state falls under severe drought. The state has declared 102 taluks as drought affected and Rs.500 Crores loss was assessed in 2006. Districts of Kodagu, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada are facing frequent landslides as these hilly regions record a very high normal rainfall of 2000mm to 4000mm. Coastal erosion is also causing havoc in the three coastal districts of Districts of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi along 322 kms of coastal length. The coastline exposes the state to Cyclones-2/”>Cyclones, storm surges and coastal erosion.

As against the annual Average rainfall of 830.5 mm in Bangalore Urban district, 568.5 mm, which is 75% of the average annual rainfall, occurred in a period of two months in September and October, 2005. An excess of 289.2 mm rainfall is reported in just 3 days, As per the assessment report of Bangalore Urban District, 3 persons died, 7491 houses collapsed and 10,000 houses were inundated. Apart from these effects, about 253 tanks were overflowing and basic Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE such as water supply, roads, bridges, electricity, telephones etc., were cut off in most parts.

It became clear that the main need for the state is to have a Disaster Management Policy and Plan to guide all aspects of disaster management (including pre-disaster preparedness, post-disaster response, short and medium-term physical reconstruction, social rehabilitation and long-term disaster mitigation).

Cyclones, Winds and Coastal Erosion:

Karnataka state has been confronting various natural hazards. The coastal districts namely Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada with a coastal line of 322 kms and coastal Population of 43.64 Lakhs are under the direct threat of cyclones and severe cyclones originating in Arabian Sea and indirect attack of cyclones originating along the Eastern coastline. The high density of population along the coastline of Karnataka has made the population highly vulnerable to the storm surge and high speed wind accompanied with cyclone. Any severe cyclone along the eastern coastline causes heavy rainfall in the interior Karnataka region resulting in damages to crops, buildings, infrastructure Services such as roads and often the impact would be severe disruption in the socio-economic life in these regions. It is important to note that infrastructure such as rail and road networks which are adjacent to the sea coast are constantly threatened by the erosion caused by giant sea waves particularly during storm surges and cyclones The state is incurring huge expenditure almost every year on prevention of coastal erosion for the 350 Kms of coastal line. The State has been placed under Category (II) A – Low Vulnerability along with other states of Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Out of total geographical area of 190.238 Lakh ha, about 44.92 lakh ha area covering 15 districts and 50 taluks is affected by winds and cyclones which is falling under moderate risk zone (Vs=39m/s) and remaining area falls under low damage risk zone (33m/s).

Apart from coastal erosion, the coastal areas are facing disasters such as boat capsizing due to extreme weather conditions in the sea. The recent boats capsize on 29th May, 2006 at Malpe Port at Udupi and Oil spillages at Karwar Port are a few examples. The incident of Boat capsizing on 29th May, 2006 has lead to a loss of property of Rs. 1.34 Crores and death of 6 fishermen. The Oil spillage incident near Karwar Port is a different experience in Karnataka as it happened for the first time on 30th May, 2006.

These coastal areas are surrounded by western Ghats, west flowing rivers, high rain fall, Konkan railway running close to sea, land bars between sea and rivers with minimum road link between land bars and main land, higher coastal population density with most of the coastal area at the mean sea level.

Floods:

Almost all the districts in Karnataka are facing the brunt of moderate to severe floods. Floods are associated with cloud bursts, cyclones or depressions in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea. Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkote, Raichur, Gulbarga, Shimaoga, Chikkamagalur, Udupi, Coorg, Bellary, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwad, Davanagere, Gadag, Hassan, Uttara Kannada, Koppal, Bidar, Bangalore ( R ), Bangalore(U), Kolar, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar. In the North Karnataka region covering the Krishna and Godavari Basins, even when the state was suffering under drought like conditions, heavy discharges from Maharashtra caused floods. The floods in the Districts of Gulbarga, Belgaum, Bijapur, Bidar, Bagalkot, Raichur etc., as a result of outflow of excess water from the Krishna and Bhima Basins from Maharashtra have affected 12 lakh people leaving behind 20,000 damaged houses, 1.6 Lakhs hectares of damaged crops in 2006 and 2005. Cities are facing floods causing severe damages to infrastructure services and loss of life.

Disaster Management authority:

Karnataka State has the distinction of being first in the country to establish a Drought Monitoring Cell (DMC) in 1988 as an institutional mechanism affiliated to Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Karnataka. Subsequently in 2007, the DMC was renamed as Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) and the activities were broadened to also include monitoring of other natural disasters viz., Floods, Hailstorms, Gale-Winds, Storm-surges, Earthquakes, Landslides, Tsunamis etc

Karnataka is a state in India that is located in the southern part of the country. It is the third most populous state in India, with a population of over 60 million people. The state is home to a diverse range of landscapes, including Mountains, forests, plains, and coastal areas.

Karnataka is also prone to a number of natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, droughts, landslides, tsunamis, wildfires, cyclones, heat waves, and cold waves. These natural hazards can have a devastating impact on the state’s economy and infrastructure, as well as on the lives of its people.

In recent years, there have been a number of natural disasters that have struck Karnataka. In 2013, the state was hit by a severe drought that lasted for over two years. The drought caused widespread crop failures and Livestock deaths, and it left millions of people without access to food and water. In 2015, the state was hit by a series of floods that caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure. The floods also displaced thousands of people and left many dead.

The State Government has taken a number of steps to mitigate the impact of natural hazards. These steps include:

Building early warning systems to detect natural disasters
Developing disaster management plans
Conducting disaster preparedness drills
Providing financial assistance to those affected by natural disasters
Providing relief and rehabilitation to those affected by natural disasters

Despite these efforts, the state is still vulnerable to natural hazards. The government needs to continue to take steps to mitigate the impact of natural disasters, and it needs to be prepared to respond to natural disasters when they occur.

The following are some of the ways in which the government can mitigate the impact of natural hazards:

Build early warning systems. Early warning systems can help to detect natural disasters early on, which can give people time to evacuate and take other precautions.
Develop disaster management plans. Disaster management plans can help to ensure that the government is prepared to respond to natural disasters in a timely and effective manner.
Conduct disaster preparedness drills. Disaster preparedness drills can help to ensure that people know what to do in the event of a natural disaster.
Provide financial assistance to those affected by natural disasters. Financial assistance can help people to recover from the damage caused by natural disasters.
Provide relief and rehabilitation to those affected by natural disasters. Relief and rehabilitation can help people to rebuild their lives after a natural disaster.

The following are some of the ways in which the government can respond to natural disasters:

Provide emergency relief. Emergency relief can help to meet the immediate needs of people affected by a natural disaster, such as food, water, shelter, and medical care.
Restore infrastructure. The government can help to restore infrastructure that has been damaged by a natural disaster, such as roads, bridges, and power lines.
Provide financial assistance. The government can provide financial assistance to people who have lost their homes or businesses in a natural disaster.
Provide psychological support. The government can provide psychological support to people who have been traumatized by a natural disaster.

The government needs to continue to take steps to mitigate the impact of natural hazards, and it needs to be prepared to respond to natural disasters when they occur. By taking these steps, the government can help to protect the lives and property of the people of Karnataka.

What is a NATURAL HAZARD?

A natural hazard is a threat of loss of life, injury, or property due to a naturally occurring event, such as a flood, earthquake, or hurricane.

What are the different types of natural hazards?

There are many different types of natural hazards, but some of the most common include:

Floods
Earthquakes
Tsunamis
Tornadoes
Hurricanes
Wildfires
Droughts
Heat waves
Cold waves
Blizzards
Landslides
Avalanches
Volcanic eruptions

What are the causes of natural hazards?

Natural hazards are caused by a variety of factors, including:

The Earth’s natural processes, such as Plate tectonics and weather patterns
Human activities, such as deforestation and Climate change

What are the effects of natural hazards?

The effects of natural hazards can be devastating, causing loss of life, injury, property damage, and economic disruption.

How can we reduce the risk of natural hazards?

There are a number of things we can do to reduce the risk of natural hazards, including:

Building and maintaining infrastructure to withstand natural hazards
Developing early warning systems
Educating the public about natural hazards
Preparing for and responding to natural hazards

What are the challenges of reducing the risk of natural hazards?

There are a number of challenges to reducing the risk of natural hazards, including:

The high cost of infrastructure and early warning systems
The difficulty of educating the public about natural hazards
The difficulty of preparing for and responding to natural hazards

What is the future of natural hazards?

The future of natural hazards is uncertain, but it is likely that they will become more frequent and severe due to Climate Change.

What can we do to prepare for the future of natural hazards?

We can prepare for the future of natural hazards by:

Investing in infrastructure and early warning systems
Educating the public about natural hazards
Preparing for and responding to natural hazards

Sure, here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic Karnataka Natural Hazard and related aspect:

Which of the following is not a natural hazard?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood
(C) Fire
(D) War
Which of the following is the most common natural hazard in the world?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood
(C) Drought
(D) Tsunami
Which of the following is the most deadly natural hazard in the world?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood
(C) Drought
(D) Tsunami
Which of the following is the most expensive natural hazard in the world?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood
(C) Drought
(D) Tsunami
Which of the following is the most common natural hazard in India?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood
(C) Drought
(D) Tsunami
Which of the following is the most deadly natural hazard in India?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood
(C) Drought
(D) Tsunami
Which of the following is the most expensive natural hazard in India?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood
(C) Drought
(D) Tsunami
Which of the following is the most common natural hazard in Karnataka?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood
(C) Drought
(D) Tsunami
Which of the following is the most deadly natural hazard in Karnataka?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood
(C) Drought
(D) Tsunami
Which of the following is the most expensive natural hazard in Karnataka?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood
(C) Drought
(D) Tsunami