 An event that causes

a huge loss of lives

and property is
called a DISASTER .
 Disasters are of two
types:
i) Natural Disasters
ii) Man Made Disasters
 The earth’s
lithosphere is made up
of a number of
interlocking plates .
These plates tend to
move or slip against
each other. This
sudden shaking of the
earth is called an
EARTHQUAKE.
 The spewing out of
lava , ash , gases and
rock fragments
through a vent or
opening at a weak spot
in the earth’s crust is
called a VOLCANIC
ERUPTION. The
opening is known as
Volcano .
 A Landslide occurs when
masses of rock loosened by
weathering move down a
slope under the pull of
gravity. The debris hurtling
down hill carry with them
huge boulders and uprooted
trees. They can destroy
buildings, and bury roads
and railways in their path.
Landslides may be
triggered by earthquakes
and floods.
 A flood is a
condition in which
vast areas of
normally dry land
are covered by
water. Floods
caused by the
overflowing of
rivers are called
riverine floods.
  Drought is an insidious
natural hazard that
results from a
departure of
precipitation from
expected or normal
that, when extended
over a season or longer
period of time, is
insufficient to meet
the demands of human,
plant and animal
activities.
 Tropical storms called
cyclones usually originate
over the oceans.Cyclone
has a region of low
pressure with high- speed
swirling around it. These
winds can destroy homes
and other structures, and
uproot trees and
poles.Cyclones bring heavy
rainfall that can cause
floods.
 The damage caused by
incidents of fires in
buildings every year is
more than that caused
by other disasters.
The loss of life is high
if the fire is in a
crowded building. On
13 June 1997, 59
people died in a fire at
a cinema in Delhi.
 Industries often produce
or use hazardous
substances, whose leakage
can be disastrous for us
and the environment.
 An accident in a nuclear
power plant can release
radioactive material and
nuclear radiation, affecting
the population in a large
area around the plant.
 Terrorists use
violence to bring
attention to their
cause . They may
use unconventional
means , and strike
without warning .
They may use
chemical and
biological weapons .
 Travel- related
accidents take many
lives everyday . An
accident in which
many people are
involved can turn
into a disaster .