Disaster Management in Bihar

The state of Bihar, which is prone to several disasters, need a multi-disciplinary strategy to dealing with these disasters, which necessitates the cooperation of numerous stakeholders. It necessitates a constant and integrated process of planning, organising, coordinating, and implementing actions for risk prevention, risk mitigation, disaster preparedness, response, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Some of the prominent disasters and their impacts are –

Flood

The geography of Bihar is defined by a number of perennial and non-perennial rivers, the majority of which originate in Nepal and are known to transport large amounts of silt that are eventually deposited on the plains of Bihar. The majority of rainfall in this region occurs during the three months of monsoon, when river flows can surge by up to 50 times, producing floods in Bihar. An estimated 73 percent of Bihar's total land area (68800 sq km) is vulnerable to flooding, out of a total area of 94160 sq km. Annual flooding in Bihar accounts for 30-40% of all flood damages in India, with the state of Bihar accounting for 22.1 percent of the entire flood-affected population in India. Bihar's most flood-prone and flood-prone districts include 28 districts.

Earthquake

Bihar is positioned in a high seismic zone along the Bihar-Nepal border, on the boundary of the tectonic plate merging the Himalayan tectonic plate, with six sub-surface fault lines flowing in four directions towards the Gangetic planes. The Vulnerability Atlas of India classifies major areas of the state as seismic zones IV and V, indicating considerable earthquake vulnerability. In all, 15.2 percent of Bihar's total land is classed as Zone V, whereas 63.7 percent of Bihar's total land is classed as Zone IV. Eight districts are in seismic zone V, 24 are in seismic zone IV, and six are in seismic zone III, with the majority of districts falling into multiple seismic zones (i.e. either seismic zone V & IV or seismic zone IV & III). Major earthquakes have struck the state in the past; the worst was the 1934 earthquake, which killed over 10,000 people, followed by the 1988 earthquake.

Drought

Though Bihar's environment is favourable for the development of a variety of crops, the state's agriculture is reliant on monsoon behaviour and rainfall distribution. Although the state's average rainfall is 1120 mm, there are significant differences in rainfall across the state. As a result of climate change, a large portion of the state is becoming increasingly prone to drought. Most of Bihar, particularly North Bihar, which is prone to floods, is experiencing drought due to a lack of adequate rainfall. Bihar's south and south-west regions are particularly prone to drought, with severe droughts occurring frequently.

Other Hazards

Aside from the aforementioned dangers, the state is vulnerable to cold and heat waves, cyclonic storms (high-speed winds), and other human-caused hazards such as fire, epidemics, road/boat accidents, stampedes, and so on. Fires are primarily local in nature, yet can have a significant influence on villages. Because the bulk of Kucha houses have thatch roofs and timber structures, flames from traditional stoves spread quickly during the summer months when winds are strong, causing destruction to entire communities.

Initiatives of BSDMA towards making disaster resilient Bihar

Despite the fact that the state is multi-hazard prone, it has been working to improve catastrophe resilience. The Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) has been working with the Government of Bihar's Disaster Management Department to raise awareness and create capacity among various stakeholders and the impacted community. The BSDMA has placed a strong emphasis on structural and non-structural system strengthening in order to reduce disaster risks and minimise their effects. Some important works are safety Weeks (Road Safety, Earthquake Safety, Fire Safety, and Flood Safety), stakeholder training, safe school programmes, safe construction norms, a free earthquake safety clinic and centre, and widespread distribution of IEC materials, among other things.

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