Natural Disasters

Total Questions: 22

1. Which one of following is correctly matched? [U.P.P.S.C.(R.I) 2014]

	Cities	Seismic zones
(a)	Bhuj	IV
(b)	Hyderabad	I
(c)	Srinagar	V
(d)	Chennai	II

Correct Answer: (c)

Solution:Option(a), (b) & (d) are not correctly matched because Bhuj lies in seismic Zone V and Hyderabad falls in Seismic Zone II. Other options are correctly matched.

	Cities	Seismic zones
	Bhuj	Zone V
	Hyderabad	Zone II
	Srinagar	Zone V
	Chennai	Zone III

2. Assertion (A): The frequency of floods in North Indian plains has increased during the last couple of decades. [I.A.S. (Pre) 2000]

Reason (R) There has been a reduction in the depth of river valleys due to deposition of silt.
Code:

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

Solution:The frequency of floods in north Indian plains has increased during the last couple of decades. Its main reason is shallowness of rivers due to deposition of silts. There has been a reduction in the depth of river valleys due to deposition of silts which causes flood in normal rain.

3. The most flood-prone state of India is: [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2000]

(a) Assam
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Bihar
(d) Uttar Pradesh

Correct Answer: (c) Bihar

Solution:The most flood-prone State of India is Bihar. Bihar has many rivers, including snow-fed and rain-fed rivers, that are prone to flooding. Most of the rainfall in Bihar happens during the monsoon season, which can cause rivers to swell up to 50 times. Rivers that originate in Nepal carry high sediment loads that are deposited in Bihar's plains. Floods in Bihar cause significant damage to property, lives, farmlands, and infrastructure. Floods in Bihar account for about 30-40% of flood damages in India. Floods in Bihar affect 22.1% of the total flood-affected population in India.

4. Among the following area of Uttar Pradesh which is maximum flood affected? [U.P.P.C.S.(MAINS) 2012]

(a) Western area
(b) Eastern area
(c) Middle area
(d) Northern area

Correct Answer: (b) Eastern area

Solution:Uttar Pradesh is divided into high flood-affected, medium flood affected and low flood affected regions. High flood- affected region covers 48% of total flood-affected regions of Uttar Pradesh. Eastern areas are the maximum flood-affected regions of Uttar Pradesh.

5. Which of the following statements are true? [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2018]

1. Natural disasters cause maximum damage in developing countries.
2. Bhopal gas tragedy was man-made.
3. India is a disaster free country.
4. Mangroves reduce the impact of cyclones.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4

Solution:Most of the damage due to natural disasters occurs in developing countries. The Bhopal gas tragedy was a result of human error. It is noteworthy that on December 2-3, 1984, thousands (about 3800) people died due to leakage of poisonous gas called Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) in the pesticide plant of Union Carbide India Limited, Bhopal. Mangrove forests reduce the effect of cyclones due to their strong and spreading roots. India is a very sensitive/ vulnerable country to natural calamities. UNDP has also declared India as one of the 10 most disasterprone countries in the world. It is mentioned in statement 3 that India is a disaster free country, which is false. Hence, it is clear that statements 1,2 and 4 are correct, while statement 3 is false.

6. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below: [M.P.P.C.S.(PRE) 2019]

	List-I	List-II
	(Natural Disaster)	(Affected Area/Region)
A.	Flood	i Himalayan Zone
B.	Earthquake	ii Plains of Uttar Pradesh
C.	Drought	iii West and Central India Zone
D.	Tsunami	iv Southern Coastal area of India

	A	B	C	D
(a)	ii	i	iii	iv
(b)	i	ii	iii	iv
(c)	iv	i	ii	iii
(d)	iii	i	ii	iv

Correct Answer: (a)

Solution:

	List-I	List-II
	(Natural Disaster)	(Affected Area/Region)
	Flood	Plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
	Earthquake	Himalayan Zone
	Drought	West and Central India Zone
	Tsunami	Southern Coastal area of India

7. Cyclone "Tauktae" was formed in which ocean? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O.(Pre) 2021]

(a) Bay of Bengal
(b) Red sea
(c) Caspian Sea
(d) Arabian Sea

Correct Answer: (d) Arabian Sea

Solution:Cyclone "Tauktae" originated in the Arabian Sea. This storm hit the coast of Gujarat in May 2021.

8. What is the factor of Tropical cyclone in the month of May? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S.(Pre) 2018]

(a) Western disturbance
(b) Local temperature variation
(c) Cyclone of Bay of Bengal
(d) North eastern winds.

Correct Answer: (c) Cyclone of Bay of Bengal

Solution:Preconditions for the emergence of a tropical cyclone are-

(i) Large and continuous supply of warm and moist air that can release enormous latent heat.

(ii) Enormous coriolis force that can prevent the filling of low pressure at the centre.

(iii) Unstable conditions through the troposphere that creates local disturbance around which a cyclone develops.

(iv) Absence of strong vertical wind wedge.

The most important factor for the tropical cyclone in the month of May is local temperature variation. The enhanced but uneven temperature rise over the coastal region generates suction to the cyclone and thus cyclone deflects from its natural path towards the warmer region to gather this extra entropy. It helps in the enlarging the diameter and inland reach of the cyclone there by intensifying the severity of cyclone and the regional vulnerability. Local temperature variation is a fuel to the tropical cyclones for their genesis and intensification.

9. What is 'Ockhi' which has been in the news recently? [U.P.P.S.C.(GIC) 2017]

(a) Cyclonic storm that hit India's coast in November 2017
(b) The film that won the 'Golden Peacock' Award in the International Film Festival held in Goa in November 2017
(c) The venue in Bangladesh where Asian Archery Championship was held in November 2017
(d)The nearest place in Doklam area where Chinese army is stationed

Correct Answer: (a) Cyclonic storm that hit India's coast in November 2017

Solution:'Ockhi' is a cyclonic storm that hit India's coast in November 2017. This cyclone was categorised 'extremely severe cyclonic storm.'

There are three basic shortfalls in the government's response:
1. the cyclone warning was delayed.
2. the warning, when it came, was ineffective because it could not be communicated to thousands of fisherfolk who were already out at sea.
3. once the cyclone struck, there was no war-like mobilisation and action for rescue operation.

10. Which of the following coasts of India was worst affected by 2004 Tsunami? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O.(MAINS) 2014]

(a) Malabar Coast
(b) Konkan Coast
(c) Coromandel Coast
(d) Northern Circars Coast

Correct Answer: (c) Coromandel Coast

Solution:On 26th December, 2004, Tsunami, originated from the Indian Ocean, has worstly affected, the Coromandel coast of India. The Coromandel coast is south-eastern coast of the Indian subcontinent. The coastline runs from False Divi Point in the north to Kanyakumari in the south.

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