Saima Akbar is currently pursuing a PhD at the Suresh Gyan Vihar University in Jaipur, India. She previously worked as a lecturer in the Government Degree College Sopore, India, from 2021-2022.Suraj Kumar Singh is Associate Professor and Coordinator at the Centre for Climate Change & Water Research at Suresh Gyan Vihar University in Jaipur, India.Shruti Kanga is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Geography at the School of Earth and Environmental Science at Central University of Punjab, India.

• Preface xiChapter 1. Basics of Disaster 11.1. Understanding the concept and meaning of disaster 11.2. Classification of disasters 21.2.1. Other categories of disasters 31.3. Aggravating factors of disasters 41.4. Impact of disasters 51.5. Hazard meaning and concept 61.6. Types of hazards 71.6.1. Other types of hazards 81.7. Characteristic features of hazard/disaster 81.8. Disaster management terminology 91.9. Vulnerability 111.10. Types of vulnerability 121.11. Disaster management: meaning and concept 131.12. Role of different agencies in disaster management 141.13. Modern management of disasters 151.14. Disaster risk reduction 161.15. Applications of information technology in DRR 171.16. Application of GIS in DRR 181.17. Disaster management cycle 191.18. Disaster Management Act 201.18.1. Chapters of Disaster Management Act, 2005 211.18.2. Disaster Management Act, 2005 framework 211.19. Disaster preparedness plan 221.20. Questions 231.21. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 25Chapter 2. Understanding Natural Disasters 372.1. Earthquakes 382.1.1. Meaning and concept 382.1.2. Earthquake-related terms 392.1.3. Types of earthquakes 412.1.4. Causes of earthquakes 422.1.5. Types of plate boundaries 432.1.6. Earthquake risk zones of India 432.1.7. Some damaging earthquakes in India 452.1.8. Effects of earthquakes 462.1.9. Preparedness and mitigation measures 472.2. Floods 492.2.1. Meaning and concept 492.2.2. Types of floods 502.2.3. Causes of floods. 512.2.4. Flood-prone regions of India 522.2.5. Worst flood disasters in India 532.2.6. Impact of floods 552.2.7. Mitigation measures for floods 562.3. Landslides 582.3.1. Meaning and concept 582.3.2. Types of landslides 602.3.3. Causes of landslides 612.3.4. Landslide-prone regions of India 632.3.5. Effects of landslides 632.3.6. Mitigation measures of landslides 642.3.7. Safety tips 662.4. Cyclones 672.4.1. Introduction to cyclones 672.4.2. Types of cyclones 692.4.3. Conditions for formation of cyclones 692.4.4. Cyclone-prone regions 702.4.5. Recent case studies of cyclones 712.4.6. Effects of cyclones 732.4.7. Mitigation and preparedness 732.4.8. Cyclone warning system 762.5. Tsunamis 782.5.1. Meaning and concept 782.5.2. Causes of tsunamis 792.5.3. Case studies of tsunamis 792.5.4. Effects of tsunamis 802.5.5. Mitigation and preparedness 812.5.6. Safety tips 822.6. Volcanic eruptions 832.6.1. Meaning and concept 832.6.2. Classification of volcanoes 842.6.3. Causes of volcanic eruptions 862.6.4. Vulnerable areas 872.6.5. Effects of volcanic eruptions 872.6.6. Mitigation measures or risk reduction measures 892.6.7. Safety tips 902.7. Wildfires 912.7.1. Meaning and concept 912.7.2. Types of wildfires 932.7.3. Causes of wildfires 932.7.4. Forest fire prone regions of India 952.7.5. Impact of wildfires 952.7.6. Mitigation measures 962.8. Droughts 972.8.1. Meaning and nature 972.8.2. Types of droughts 992.8.3. Causes of droughts 1002.8.4. Drought-prone regions of India 1012.8.5. Impact of droughts 1022.8.6. Drought management 1042.9. Snow avalanches 1062.9.1. Meaning and concept 1062.9.2. Types of snow avalanches 1072.9.3. Causes of snow avalanches 1082.9.4. Snow avalanche-prone regions of India 1102.9.5. Effects of snow avalanches 1112.9.6. Preparedness and mitigation measures 1122.10. Questions 1132.11. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 114Chapter 3. Human-induced Disasters 1313.1. Transportation disasters 1323.1.1. Meaning and concept 1323.1.2. Causes of transportation disasters 1333.1.3. Effects of transport disasters 1333.1.4. Control measures of transportation disasters 1343.1.5. Road safety tips 1353.2. Urban fires 1373.2.1. Meaning and concept 1373.2.2. Causes of urban fires 1383.2.3. Effects of urban fires 1393.2.4. Mitigation measures of urban fires 1403.3. Biological disasters 1423.3.1. Meaning and nature 1423.3.2. NDMA guidelines for management of biohazards 1443.3.3. Impact of biological hazards 1453.3.4. Response and management 1453.4. Nuclear (radiation) disasters 1463.4.1. Meaning and concept 1463.4.2. Causes of nuclear disasters 1473.4.3. Some notable major nuclear disasters 1493.4.4. Impact of nuclear disasters 1493.4.5. Mitigation measures 1503.4.6. Safety measures for nuclear hazards 1513.5. Chemical disaster 1533.5.1. Meaning and concept 1533.5.2. Causes of chemical disasters 1543.5.3. Some of the worst chemical disasters 1553.5.4. Impact of chemical disasters 1563.5.5. Prevention and mitigation 1573.6. Technological disasters 1583.6.1. Meaning and concept 1583.6.2. Causes of technological disasters 1593.6.3. Impact of technological disasters 1603.6.4. Mitigation measures of technological disasters 1613.7. Questions 1633.8. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 165Chapter 4. Pollutions 1734.1. Meaning and concept 1734.2. Air pollution 1744.2.1. Meaning and concept 1744.2.2. Sources of air pollution 1754.2.3. Effects of air pollution 1764.2.4. Control measures of air pollution 1774.3. Water pollution 1784.3.1. Meaning and concept 1784.3.2. Causes of water pollution 1804.3.3. Effects of water pollution 1814.3.4. Control measures of water pollution 1824.4. Soil pollution 1834.4.1. Meaning and concept 1834.4.2. Causes of soil pollution 1854.4.3. Effects of soil pollution 1864.4.4. Mitigation measures of soil pollution 1864.5. Noise pollution 1874.5.1. Meaning and concept 1874.5.2. Causes of noise pollution 1894.5.3. Harmful effects of noise pollution 1894.5.4. Control measures of noise pollution 1904.6. Radioactive pollution 1914.6.1. Meaning and nature 1914.6.2. Causes of radioactive pollution 1914.6.3. Impact of radioactive pollution 1924.6.4. Radioactive waste management 1934.7. Plastic pollution 1944.7.1. Causes of plastic pollution 1944.7.2. Impact of plastic pollution 1954.7.3. Mitigation strategies 1964.8. Questions 1974.9. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 199Chapter 5. Environmental Challenges 2075.1. Climate change 2095.1.1. Causes of climate change 2105.1.2. Impact of climate change on global sustainability 2105.1.3. Solution to combat climate change 2115.2. Greenhouse effect 2135.2.1. Factors contributing to greenhouse effect 2145.2.2. Impact of greenhouse effect 2145.2.3. Effective strategies for reducing GHG emissions 2165.3. Ozone depletion 2175.3.1. Causes of ozone depletion 2185.3.2. Impact of ozone layer depletion 2185.3.3. Mitigation measures 2195.4. Global warming 2205.4.1. Causes of global warming 2215.4.2. Effects of global warming 2215.4.3. Control measures 2225.5. Desertification 2235.5.1. Causes of desertification 2245.5.2. Effects of desertification 2255.5.3. Solution to desertification 2265.6. Acid rain 2275.6.1. Sources of acid rain 2275.6.2. Effects of acid rain 2285.6.3. Solution to control acid rain 2295.7. Ocean acidification 2305.7.1. Impact of ocean acidification 2315.7.2. Mitigation and adaptation strategies 2315.8. Urban waterlogging 2325.8.1. Causes of waterlogging 2345.8.2. Impact of urban waterlogging 2355.8.3. Strategies to prevent waterlogging in urban areas 2365.9. Questions 2375.10. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 240References 247Index 255

Saima Akbar is currently pursuing a PhD at the Suresh Gyan Vihar University in Jaipur, India. She previously worked as a lecturer in the Government Degree College Sopore, India, from 2021-2022.Suraj Kumar Singh is Associate Professor and Coordinator at the Centre for Climate Change & Water Research at Suresh Gyan Vihar University in Jaipur, India.Shruti Kanga is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Geography at the School of Earth and Environmental Science at Central University of Punjab, India.

• Preface xiChapter 1. Basics of Disaster 11.1. Understanding the concept and meaning of disaster 11.2. Classification of disasters 21.2.1. Other categories of disasters 31.3. Aggravating factors of disasters 41.4. Impact of disasters 51.5. Hazard meaning and concept 61.6. Types of hazards 71.6.1. Other types of hazards 81.7. Characteristic features of hazard/disaster 81.8. Disaster management terminology 91.9. Vulnerability 111.10. Types of vulnerability 121.11. Disaster management: meaning and concept 131.12. Role of different agencies in disaster management 141.13. Modern management of disasters 151.14. Disaster risk reduction 161.15. Applications of information technology in DRR 171.16. Application of GIS in DRR 181.17. Disaster management cycle 191.18. Disaster Management Act 201.18.1. Chapters of Disaster Management Act, 2005 211.18.2. Disaster Management Act, 2005 framework 211.19. Disaster preparedness plan 221.20. Questions 231.21. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 25Chapter 2. Understanding Natural Disasters 372.1. Earthquakes 382.1.1. Meaning and concept 382.1.2. Earthquake-related terms 392.1.3. Types of earthquakes 412.1.4. Causes of earthquakes 422.1.5. Types of plate boundaries 432.1.6. Earthquake risk zones of India 432.1.7. Some damaging earthquakes in India 452.1.8. Effects of earthquakes 462.1.9. Preparedness and mitigation measures 472.2. Floods 492.2.1. Meaning and concept 492.2.2. Types of floods 502.2.3. Causes of floods. 512.2.4. Flood-prone regions of India 522.2.5. Worst flood disasters in India 532.2.6. Impact of floods 552.2.7. Mitigation measures for floods 562.3. Landslides 582.3.1. Meaning and concept 582.3.2. Types of landslides 602.3.3. Causes of landslides 612.3.4. Landslide-prone regions of India 632.3.5. Effects of landslides 632.3.6. Mitigation measures of landslides 642.3.7. Safety tips 662.4. Cyclones 672.4.1. Introduction to cyclones 672.4.2. Types of cyclones 692.4.3. Conditions for formation of cyclones 692.4.4. Cyclone-prone regions 702.4.5. Recent case studies of cyclones 712.4.6. Effects of cyclones 732.4.7. Mitigation and preparedness 732.4.8. Cyclone warning system 762.5. Tsunamis 782.5.1. Meaning and concept 782.5.2. Causes of tsunamis 792.5.3. Case studies of tsunamis 792.5.4. Effects of tsunamis 802.5.5. Mitigation and preparedness 812.5.6. Safety tips 822.6. Volcanic eruptions 832.6.1. Meaning and concept 832.6.2. Classification of volcanoes 842.6.3. Causes of volcanic eruptions 862.6.4. Vulnerable areas 872.6.5. Effects of volcanic eruptions 872.6.6. Mitigation measures or risk reduction measures 892.6.7. Safety tips 902.7. Wildfires 912.7.1. Meaning and concept 912.7.2. Types of wildfires 932.7.3. Causes of wildfires 932.7.4. Forest fire prone regions of India 952.7.5. Impact of wildfires 952.7.6. Mitigation measures 962.8. Droughts 972.8.1. Meaning and nature 972.8.2. Types of droughts 992.8.3. Causes of droughts 1002.8.4. Drought-prone regions of India 1012.8.5. Impact of droughts 1022.8.6. Drought management 1042.9. Snow avalanches 1062.9.1. Meaning and concept 1062.9.2. Types of snow avalanches 1072.9.3. Causes of snow avalanches 1082.9.4. Snow avalanche-prone regions of India 1102.9.5. Effects of snow avalanches 1112.9.6. Preparedness and mitigation measures 1122.10. Questions 1132.11. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 114Chapter 3. Human-induced Disasters 1313.1. Transportation disasters 1323.1.1. Meaning and concept 1323.1.2. Causes of transportation disasters 1333.1.3. Effects of transport disasters 1333.1.4. Control measures of transportation disasters 1343.1.5. Road safety tips 1353.2. Urban fires 1373.2.1. Meaning and concept 1373.2.2. Causes of urban fires 1383.2.3. Effects of urban fires 1393.2.4. Mitigation measures of urban fires 1403.3. Biological disasters 1423.3.1. Meaning and nature 1423.3.2. NDMA guidelines for management of biohazards 1443.3.3. Impact of biological hazards 1453.3.4. Response and management 1453.4. Nuclear (radiation) disasters 1463.4.1. Meaning and concept 1463.4.2. Causes of nuclear disasters 1473.4.3. Some notable major nuclear disasters 1493.4.4. Impact of nuclear disasters 1493.4.5. Mitigation measures 1503.4.6. Safety measures for nuclear hazards 1513.5. Chemical disaster 1533.5.1. Meaning and concept 1533.5.2. Causes of chemical disasters 1543.5.3. Some of the worst chemical disasters 1553.5.4. Impact of chemical disasters 1563.5.5. Prevention and mitigation 1573.6. Technological disasters 1583.6.1. Meaning and concept 1583.6.2. Causes of technological disasters 1593.6.3. Impact of technological disasters 1603.6.4. Mitigation measures of technological disasters 1613.7. Questions 1633.8. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 165Chapter 4. Pollutions 1734.1. Meaning and concept 1734.2. Air pollution 1744.2.1. Meaning and concept 1744.2.2. Sources of air pollution 1754.2.3. Effects of air pollution 1764.2.4. Control measures of air pollution 1774.3. Water pollution 1784.3.1. Meaning and concept 1784.3.2. Causes of water pollution 1804.3.3. Effects of water pollution 1814.3.4. Control measures of water pollution 1824.4. Soil pollution 1834.4.1. Meaning and concept 1834.4.2. Causes of soil pollution 1854.4.3. Effects of soil pollution 1864.4.4. Mitigation measures of soil pollution 1864.5. Noise pollution 1874.5.1. Meaning and concept 1874.5.2. Causes of noise pollution 1894.5.3. Harmful effects of noise pollution 1894.5.4. Control measures of noise pollution 1904.6. Radioactive pollution 1914.6.1. Meaning and nature 1914.6.2. Causes of radioactive pollution 1914.6.3. Impact of radioactive pollution 1924.6.4. Radioactive waste management 1934.7. Plastic pollution 1944.7.1. Causes of plastic pollution 1944.7.2. Impact of plastic pollution 1954.7.3. Mitigation strategies 1964.8. Questions 1974.9. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 199Chapter 5. Environmental Challenges 2075.1. Climate change 2095.1.1. Causes of climate change 2105.1.2. Impact of climate change on global sustainability 2105.1.3. Solution to combat climate change 2115.2. Greenhouse effect 2135.2.1. Factors contributing to greenhouse effect 2145.2.2. Impact of greenhouse effect 2145.2.3. Effective strategies for reducing GHG emissions 2165.3. Ozone depletion 2175.3.1. Causes of ozone depletion 2185.3.2. Impact of ozone layer depletion 2185.3.3. Mitigation measures 2195.4. Global warming 2205.4.1. Causes of global warming 2215.4.2. Effects of global warming 2215.4.3. Control measures 2225.5. Desertification 2235.5.1. Causes of desertification 2245.5.2. Effects of desertification 2255.5.3. Solution to desertification 2265.6. Acid rain 2275.6.1. Sources of acid rain 2275.6.2. Effects of acid rain 2285.6.3. Solution to control acid rain 2295.7. Ocean acidification 2305.7.1. Impact of ocean acidification 2315.7.2. Mitigation and adaptation strategies 2315.8. Urban waterlogging 2325.8.1. Causes of waterlogging 2345.8.2. Impact of urban waterlogging 2355.8.3. Strategies to prevent waterlogging in urban areas 2365.9. Questions 2375.10. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 240References 247Index 255

Saima Akbar is currently pursuing a PhD at the Suresh Gyan Vihar University in Jaipur, India. She previously worked as a lecturer in the Government Degree College Sopore, India, from 2021-2022.Suraj Kumar Singh is Associate Professor and Coordinator at the Centre for Climate Change & Water Research at Suresh Gyan Vihar University in Jaipur, India.Shruti Kanga is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Geography at the School of Earth and Environmental Science at Central University of Punjab, India.

• Preface xiChapter 1. Basics of Disaster 11.1. Understanding the concept and meaning of disaster 11.2. Classification of disasters 21.2.1. Other categories of disasters 31.3. Aggravating factors of disasters 41.4. Impact of disasters 51.5. Hazard meaning and concept 61.6. Types of hazards 71.6.1. Other types of hazards 81.7. Characteristic features of hazard/disaster 81.8. Disaster management terminology 91.9. Vulnerability 111.10. Types of vulnerability 121.11. Disaster management: meaning and concept 131.12. Role of different agencies in disaster management 141.13. Modern management of disasters 151.14. Disaster risk reduction 161.15. Applications of information technology in DRR 171.16. Application of GIS in DRR 181.17. Disaster management cycle 191.18. Disaster Management Act 201.18.1. Chapters of Disaster Management Act, 2005 211.18.2. Disaster Management Act, 2005 framework 211.19. Disaster preparedness plan 221.20. Questions 231.21. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 25Chapter 2. Understanding Natural Disasters 372.1. Earthquakes 382.1.1. Meaning and concept 382.1.2. Earthquake-related terms 392.1.3. Types of earthquakes 412.1.4. Causes of earthquakes 422.1.5. Types of plate boundaries 432.1.6. Earthquake risk zones of India 432.1.7. Some damaging earthquakes in India 452.1.8. Effects of earthquakes 462.1.9. Preparedness and mitigation measures 472.2. Floods 492.2.1. Meaning and concept 492.2.2. Types of floods 502.2.3. Causes of floods. 512.2.4. Flood-prone regions of India 522.2.5. Worst flood disasters in India 532.2.6. Impact of floods 552.2.7. Mitigation measures for floods 562.3. Landslides 582.3.1. Meaning and concept 582.3.2. Types of landslides 602.3.3. Causes of landslides 612.3.4. Landslide-prone regions of India 632.3.5. Effects of landslides 632.3.6. Mitigation measures of landslides 642.3.7. Safety tips 662.4. Cyclones 672.4.1. Introduction to cyclones 672.4.2. Types of cyclones 692.4.3. Conditions for formation of cyclones 692.4.4. Cyclone-prone regions 702.4.5. Recent case studies of cyclones 712.4.6. Effects of cyclones 732.4.7. Mitigation and preparedness 732.4.8. Cyclone warning system 762.5. Tsunamis 782.5.1. Meaning and concept 782.5.2. Causes of tsunamis 792.5.3. Case studies of tsunamis 792.5.4. Effects of tsunamis 802.5.5. Mitigation and preparedness 812.5.6. Safety tips 822.6. Volcanic eruptions 832.6.1. Meaning and concept 832.6.2. Classification of volcanoes 842.6.3. Causes of volcanic eruptions 862.6.4. Vulnerable areas 872.6.5. Effects of volcanic eruptions 872.6.6. Mitigation measures or risk reduction measures 892.6.7. Safety tips 902.7. Wildfires 912.7.1. Meaning and concept 912.7.2. Types of wildfires 932.7.3. Causes of wildfires 932.7.4. Forest fire prone regions of India 952.7.5. Impact of wildfires 952.7.6. Mitigation measures 962.8. Droughts 972.8.1. Meaning and nature 972.8.2. Types of droughts 992.8.3. Causes of droughts 1002.8.4. Drought-prone regions of India 1012.8.5. Impact of droughts 1022.8.6. Drought management 1042.9. Snow avalanches 1062.9.1. Meaning and concept 1062.9.2. Types of snow avalanches 1072.9.3. Causes of snow avalanches 1082.9.4. Snow avalanche-prone regions of India 1102.9.5. Effects of snow avalanches 1112.9.6. Preparedness and mitigation measures 1122.10. Questions 1132.11. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 114Chapter 3. Human-induced Disasters 1313.1. Transportation disasters 1323.1.1. Meaning and concept 1323.1.2. Causes of transportation disasters 1333.1.3. Effects of transport disasters 1333.1.4. Control measures of transportation disasters 1343.1.5. Road safety tips 1353.2. Urban fires 1373.2.1. Meaning and concept 1373.2.2. Causes of urban fires 1383.2.3. Effects of urban fires 1393.2.4. Mitigation measures of urban fires 1403.3. Biological disasters 1423.3.1. Meaning and nature 1423.3.2. NDMA guidelines for management of biohazards 1443.3.3. Impact of biological hazards 1453.3.4. Response and management 1453.4. Nuclear (radiation) disasters 1463.4.1. Meaning and concept 1463.4.2. Causes of nuclear disasters 1473.4.3. Some notable major nuclear disasters 1493.4.4. Impact of nuclear disasters 1493.4.5. Mitigation measures 1503.4.6. Safety measures for nuclear hazards 1513.5. Chemical disaster 1533.5.1. Meaning and concept 1533.5.2. Causes of chemical disasters 1543.5.3. Some of the worst chemical disasters 1553.5.4. Impact of chemical disasters 1563.5.5. Prevention and mitigation 1573.6. Technological disasters 1583.6.1. Meaning and concept 1583.6.2. Causes of technological disasters 1593.6.3. Impact of technological disasters 1603.6.4. Mitigation measures of technological disasters 1613.7. Questions 1633.8. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 165Chapter 4. Pollutions 1734.1. Meaning and concept 1734.2. Air pollution 1744.2.1. Meaning and concept 1744.2.2. Sources of air pollution 1754.2.3. Effects of air pollution 1764.2.4. Control measures of air pollution 1774.3. Water pollution 1784.3.1. Meaning and concept 1784.3.2. Causes of water pollution 1804.3.3. Effects of water pollution 1814.3.4. Control measures of water pollution 1824.4. Soil pollution 1834.4.1. Meaning and concept 1834.4.2. Causes of soil pollution 1854.4.3. Effects of soil pollution 1864.4.4. Mitigation measures of soil pollution 1864.5. Noise pollution 1874.5.1. Meaning and concept 1874.5.2. Causes of noise pollution 1894.5.3. Harmful effects of noise pollution 1894.5.4. Control measures of noise pollution 1904.6. Radioactive pollution 1914.6.1. Meaning and nature 1914.6.2. Causes of radioactive pollution 1914.6.3. Impact of radioactive pollution 1924.6.4. Radioactive waste management 1934.7. Plastic pollution 1944.7.1. Causes of plastic pollution 1944.7.2. Impact of plastic pollution 1954.7.3. Mitigation strategies 1964.8. Questions 1974.9. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 199Chapter 5. Environmental Challenges 2075.1. Climate change 2095.1.1. Causes of climate change 2105.1.2. Impact of climate change on global sustainability 2105.1.3. Solution to combat climate change 2115.2. Greenhouse effect 2135.2.1. Factors contributing to greenhouse effect 2145.2.2. Impact of greenhouse effect 2145.2.3. Effective strategies for reducing GHG emissions 2165.3. Ozone depletion 2175.3.1. Causes of ozone depletion 2185.3.2. Impact of ozone layer depletion 2185.3.3. Mitigation measures 2195.4. Global warming 2205.4.1. Causes of global warming 2215.4.2. Effects of global warming 2215.4.3. Control measures 2225.5. Desertification 2235.5.1. Causes of desertification 2245.5.2. Effects of desertification 2255.5.3. Solution to desertification 2265.6. Acid rain 2275.6.1. Sources of acid rain 2275.6.2. Effects of acid rain 2285.6.3. Solution to control acid rain 2295.7. Ocean acidification 2305.7.1. Impact of ocean acidification 2315.7.2. Mitigation and adaptation strategies 2315.8. Urban waterlogging 2325.8.1. Causes of waterlogging 2345.8.2. Impact of urban waterlogging 2355.8.3. Strategies to prevent waterlogging in urban areas 2365.9. Questions 2375.10. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) 240References 247Index 255