Information
Biological disasters are causative of process or phenomenon of organic origin or conveyed by biological
vectors, including exposure to pathogenic micro-organisms, toxins and bioactive substances that may
cause loss of life, injury, illness or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services,
social and economic disruption, or environmental damage. Examples of biological disasters include
outbreaks of epidemic diseases, plant or animal contagion, insect or other animal plagues and infestation.
Biological disasters may be in the form of:-
Epidemic
Epidemic affecting a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or
region at the same time, examples being Cholera, Plague, Japanese Encephalitis (JE)/Acute
Encephalitis Syndrome (AES); or,
Pandemic
Pandemic is an epidemic that spreads across a large region, that is, a continent, or even worldwide of
existing, emerging or reemerging diseases and pestilences, example being Influenza H1N1 (Swine Flu).
Do's and Dont's
Before The Disaster
Plan for Family Biological Disaster Plan.
Preparation by ensuring Prevention measures:
Personal cleanliness - daily bath, dont grow long nails and wear clean clothes.
Hand Hygiene (
Eat nutritious and balanced food.
Immunisation state should be upto date.
Prevent overcrowding.
Good ventilation.
Protect from hot and cold weather.
Health Education.
Surveillance.
Information
Chemical Disaster
Chemical, being at the core of modern industrial systems, has attained a very serious concern for
disaster management within government, private sector and community at large. Chemical
disasters may be traumatic in their impacts on human beings and have resulted in the casualties
and also damages nature and property. The elements which are at highest risks due to chemical
disaster primarily include the industrial plant, its employees & workers, hazardous chemicals
vehicles, the residents of nearby settlements, adjacent buildings, occupants and surrounding
community. Chemical disasters may arise in number of ways, such as:
Process and safety systems failures
-Human errors
-Technical errors
-Management errors
Induced effect of natural calamities
Accidents during the transportation
Hazardous waste processing/ disposal
Terrorist attack/ unrest leading to sabotage
Status of Chemical Disaster Risk in India
India has witnessed the worlds worst chemical (industrial) disaster Bhopal Gas Tragedy in the
year 1984. The Bhopal Gas tragedy was most devastating chemical accident in history, where over
2500 people died due to accidental release of toxic gas Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC).
Such accidents are significant in terms of injuries, pain, suffering, loss of lives, damage to
property and environment. India continued to witness a series of chemical accidents even after
Bhopal had demonstrated the vulnerability of the country. Only in last decade, 130 significant
chemical accidents reported in India, which resulted into 259 deaths and 563 number of major
injured.
There are about 1861 Major Accident Hazard (MAH) units, spread across 298 districts and 25
states & 3 Union Territories, in all zones of country. Besides, there are thousands of registered
and hazardous factories (below MAH criteria) and un-organized sectors dealing with numerous
range of hazardous material posing serious and complex levels of disaster risks.
Safety initiatives taken in India to address chemical risk
The comprehensive legal/ institutional framework exists in our country. A number of regulations
covering the safety in transportation, liability, insurance and compensations have been enacted.
Following are the relevant provisions on chemical disaster management, prevailing in country:
Explosives Act 1884
Factories Act 1948
Environment Protection Act 1986
Public Liability Insurance Act 1991
- Petroleum Act 1934
- Insecticides Act 1968
- Motor Vehicles Act 1988
- Disaster Management Act 2005
Government of India has further reinforced the legal framework on chemical safety and
management of chemical accidents by enacting new rules such as MSIHC Rules, EPPR Rules,
SMPV Rules, CMV Rules, Gas Cylinder Rules, Hazardous Waste Rules, Dock Workers Rules and
by way of amendments to them.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of India had come out with very specific
guidelines on Chemical Disaster Management. The guidelines have been prepared to provide the
directions to ministries, departments and state authorities for the preparation of their detailed
disaster management plans. These guidelines call for a proactive, participatory, multi-disciplinary
and multi-sectoral approach at various levels for chemical disaster preparedness and response.
Further, NDMA has provided specific inputs to the GOM for avoidance of future chemical disasters
in the country, along with suggested amendments on the existing framework. NDMA is also
working on revamping of CIFs ( Chief Inspectorate of Factories) to strengthen chemical safety in
India. In addition, MoEF and NDMA are in process of finalizing the National Action Plan on
Chemical Industrial Disaster Management (NAP-CIDM), which will act as the roadmap for chemical
disaster management in India.
