Earthquake - A Natural Disaster, Prediction, Mitigation, Laws and Government Policies, Impact on Biogeochemistry of Earth Crust, Role of Remote Sensing and GIS in Management in India - An Overview

Abstract

The whole world from time to time is exposed to the unpredictable disaster called Earthquake which causes immense damage to the infrastructure, life and injury to the people. The present manuscript tries to discuss different aspects of the Earthquake in the present scenario in India and the role of government and its policies, society, schools and technology for the prevention and mitigation measures and impact on biogeochemistry of the earth crust. Due to location of India in tropics and happening of plate tectonic activities under and around the Indian plates has made India prone to the different types of disaster of which one of them is the Earthquake. The prediction of Earthquake is still not possible accurately. In India, during the 10th Five year plan, there has been paradigm shift in the laws and policies related to the disaster management. A separate act called Disaster Management Act-2005, has been passed by the Parliament of India. This act provides institutional, legal, financial and coordination mechanisms at the national, state, district and local levels for management of all types of disaster happening in India. This law made the role of government from relief oriented measures to the prevention and preparedness. During the Earthquake, there occurs a different type of impacts on the Biogeochemistry of the earth crust. Among them, there are the impacts on biodiversity of living organisms, variation in the water levels, folding and faulting in the crust of the Earth and generation of sea waves called Tsunami etc. Technology in the form of remote sensing and GIS can play important role and can be used before and after the occurrence of Earthquake for proper management. The Earthquake is a disaster which is unpredictable, untimely and we lack of mechanism and technology to predict its time of happening precisely. With regard to Earthquake disaster, we can only prepare our self, take preventive and preparedness measures, so that there is less damage to infrastructure and loss of life. This can be achieved by investing more in research and development of tools for prediction, proper understanding of Earthquake phenomenon, along with it there is need to concentrate more on prevention, preparedness and mitigation before and quick relief to the people after the occurrence of Earthquake.