Page 245 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

Causes of disasters
Disasters like flood, landslide, etc. occur every year in Nepal. Slopes and fragile
geological structure, deforestation, unmanaged industrialization, population growth,
unmanaged settlement, unmanaged urbanization, unscientific agricultural paractices in
slopes, unmanaged construction, misuse of fire, etc. are the major causes of occurrence of
disasters in Nepal. The disasters that commonly occur in Nepal are flood, landslide, forest
fire, storm, glacial lake outburst, epidemics, lightning, earthquake, etc.

Management and mitigating measures of disasters
Disasters occur due to various causes. We should select disaster management and
mitigating measures on the basis of the causes of disaster. Some disasters and their
management and mitigating measures are described below:

i. Preparedness
ii. Rescue of the affected people
iii. Help, rehabilitation of and relief to the effected people

iv. Mobilization of help in a proper way
v. Development of public awareness
Among many natural disasters, we discuss some of them, viz. earthquake, flood, landslide,
avalanche, glacier lake outburst, their causes and mitigating measures.

Earthquake

Management and mitigating measures for earthquake
An earthquake is the sudden shaking of the
earth’s surface. It occurs due to various reasons.
It damages human constructed works like
buildings, houses, roads, bridges, etc. and kills
human beings and other animals. Earthquake
may occur at any time. So we should adopt
various measures to keep us safe during the
earthquake.
Fig: 9
Preventive measures before earthquake Earthquake

i. We should identify a safe place inside and outside the house.
ii. We should firmly fix cupboards, photo frames, television, mirror, etc. to the wall so
that they do not fall and hurt us during the earthquake.
iii. We should repair the foundation of house, walls, ceilings, windows, windowpanes,
electric wires, etc. on time.

iv. We should keep an emergency bag keeping dry food, radio, mobile phone, torch
light, water bottle and first aid box.

GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 245