DEFINITION OF DISASTER AS PER DM ACT, 2005

• “A catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from

natural or man made causes, or by accident or negligence which results in
substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of
property, or damage to, or degradation of environment and is of such a nature
or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the
affected area.”
ATTEMPTED DEFINITION OF RAILWAY DISASTER
“Disaster is a serious Train Accident or an unfortunate event that leads to loss of lives
and/or grievous injuries to large number of people; and/or severe disruption of traffic,
necessitating help from other Government, Non-Govt., and Private Organisations
Disaster Management - National Scenario
• MHA is the Nodal Ministry of all Disasters except Drought.
• Disaster Management Act, 2005 promulgated.
• NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) is constituted under this Act
to deal with DM holistically.
• 24X7 control room in NDM division of MHA.
• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is constituted having 8 battalions, 2
each from CRPF, CISF, ITBP and BSF.
• Out of these 8 battalions, 4 (1 each from 4 PM forces) to deal with NBC Disasters
and balance 4 will deal with Non-NBC Disasters.
• Each Battalion has 6 Companies comprising of 3 teams each.
• Team comprises of 45 men out of which 24 are for Search & Rescue and balance
21 for support functions.
• Q.R. and Training curriculum has been fixed.
• Short-listed & trained staff are on deputation in NDRF (National Disaster
Response Force).
• For managerial training on DM, NCDM has been already existing which has been
renamed as NIDM (National Institute on Disaster Management).
 • NIDM runs several multi-disciplinary training programmes.
• Most of the states also have DM training institutes funded by the centre.
• National Policy on Disaster management is under consideration with the
Cabinet.
• IDRN- India Disaster Resource Network
• State Govts. are also setting up State level DMA (e.g. DDMA - Delhi Disaster
Management Authority, GSDMA – Gujarat DMA)
• Disaster Management Vehicles, e.g. HAZMAT vans have been imported in some
of the states (like Delhi Fire Service)
• Fire services are being modernised by the states.
• MoEF is preparing National Chemical Profile which will help in management of
Environmental Emergencies & Chemical disasters.
NIC (National Informatics Centre) has mapped few districts & villages and used
dispersion modeling of managing chemical disasters. Software will be given to civil
administration
• Cabinet Secretariat is also reviewing the Crisis management Plans of individual
ministries/departments under GOI. Emphasis is on preparedness to deal with
Internal Security related problems/Terrorist attacks
• NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (NDMA)
• Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairperson
• General (Retd.) N. C. Vij is the Vice-Chairperson
• Members, not exceeding nine are to be nominated by the Chairperson
• Vice Chairperson is Cabinet rank and Members are State rank Ministers.
• Responsible for laying down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster
management for ensuring timely and effective response to disaster;
• National Executive Committee (NEC) to assist NDMA
• NDMA – Broad Functions
• lay down policies on disaster management;
 • approve the National Plan;
• approve plans prepared by the Ministries or Departments of Govt;
• lay down guidelines to be followed by the State Authorities;
• lay down guidelines to be followed by the different Ministries or
Departments of the Government of India;
• coordinate the enforcement and implementation of the policy and plan
for disaster management;
• recommend provision of funds for the purpose of mitigation;
• lay down broad policies and guidelines for the functioning of NIDM;
• Guidelines on Management of Earthquakes, Cyclones & floods, and
Medical Preparedness are already issued by NDMA for the
Ministries/departments to make their action plans for implementation
The Disaster Management Act, 2005
It legislates a holistic approach to Disaster Management from mere responding to
disasters to greater attention to prevention and mitigation, capacity building and
preparedness
Sections 36 & 37 of the Act detail the responsibilities of Ministries and Departments of
Central Govt. as per which a number of measures/actions are to be taken either on
their own or in consultation with NDMA
THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT, 2005 SECTION 36
• It shall be the responsibility of every Ministry or Department of the Government
of India to-
– take measures necessary for prevention of disasters, mitigation,
preparedness and capacity-building in accordance with the guidelines laid
down by the National Authority;
– Integrate into its development plans and projects, the measures for
prevention or mitigation of disasters in accordance with the guidelines
laid down by the National Authority;
– Respond effectively and promptly to any threatening disaster situation
or disaster in accordance with the guidelines of the National Authority or
the directions of the National Executive Committee in this behalf;
– Review the enactments administered by it, its polices, rules and
regulations, with a view to incorporate therein the provisions necessary
for prevention of disasters, mitigation or preparedness;
– Allocate funds for measures for prevention of disaster, mitigation,
capacity-building and preparedness;
– Provide assistance to the National Authority and State Government for
– drawing up mitigation, preparedness and response plans, capacity
building, data collection and identification and training of personnel in
relation to disaster management.
– Carrying out rescue and relief operation in the affected area;
– Assessing the damage from any disaster;
– Carrying out rehabilitation and reconstruction;
– make available its resources to the National Executive Committee or a
State Executive Committee for the purposes of responding promptly and
effectively to any threatening disaster situation or disaster, including
measures for-
– providing emergency communication in a vulnerable or affected area;
– transporting personnel and relief goods to and from the affected area;
– providing evacuation, rescue, temporary shelter or other immediate
relief;
– setting up temporary bridges, jetties and landing places;
– Providing, drinking water, essential provisions, healthcare, and services
in an affected area;
– take such other actions as it may consider necessary for disaster
management.
 THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT, 2005 SECTION 37
– Every Ministry or Department of the Government of India shall prepare a
disaster management plan specifying;
– the measures to be taken by it for prevention and mitigation of disasters
in accordance with the National Plan;
– the specifications regarding integration of mitigation measures in its
development plans in accordance with the guidelines of the National
Authority and the National Executive Committee;
– its roles and responsibilities in relation to preparedness and capacity-
building to deal with any threatening disaster situation or disaster;
– its roles and responsibilities in regard to promptly and effectively
responding to any threatening disaster situation or disaster;
– the present status of its preparedness to perform the roles and
responsibilities
– the measures required to be taken in order to enable it to perform its
responsibilities
– review and update annually the plan
– forward a copy of the plan to the Central Government which Government
shall forward a copy thereof to the National Authority for its approval.
– Every Ministry or Department of the Government of India shall-
– make, while preparing disaster management plan, provisions for
financing the activities specified therein;
– furnish a status report regarding the implementation of the plan to the
National Authority, as and when required by it.
– Disaster Management - IR Perspective
– Disasters on Railways
– Serious Train Accidents.
– Natural Disasters like earthquake, Cyclone, etc..
– Terrorism/Security related Crisis – Hijacking of train, blast at station/train
– All India Railway Strike.
– Railway accidents are broadly classified as Consequential and non-
consequential.
– Consequential accidents include Collisions, Fire, Level Crossing accidents,
Derailments and misc..
– Some of the consequential accidents can be termed as Disasters that
involve loss of lives and/or grievous injuries to large number of people;
and/or heavy loss of Railway property, necessitating help for other
Government, Non-Govt., and Private Organisations.
– Elements of Disaster Management on Indian Railways
– Prevention and Mitigation.
– Preparedness for Quick Relief, Rescue and Restoration
– Indian Railway Corporate Safety Plan (2003-2013) envisages Disaster
Prevention and Mitigation directed towards Continuous Reduction in Risk
Level to its Customers.
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