Switch to Digit Insurance

Trusted by 2 crore Indians

1 Year Waiting Period

Health
Car
Bike
Commercial
COVID-19 covered

Travel
More

Enter Your Car Registration number

Mobile Number

+91

Enter Mobile Number to Proceed

+91

OR ENTER YOUR CAR NUMBER

DON'T KNOW YOUR CAR NUMBER?

or renew digit policy

I agree to the Terms & Conditions

Registration Number

Previous policy expiry

Not Expired

Expired

DON'T KNOW REGISTRATION NUMBER?

I KNOW MY REGISTRATION NUMBER

IT'S A NEW BIKE

OR RENEW DIGIT POLICY

I agree to the Terms & Conditions

Which countries are you visiting?

Most Popular(You can select more than one)

Leaving date

Return date

I agree to the Terms & Conditions

As mandated by Spanish Authorities your travel insurance needs to extend 15 days after your trip ends.
We will extend your coverage period accordingly.

Pin Code

In case, you wish to buy a plan for your siblings, aunts, uncles or any other relatives, you can buy a separate plan for them.

Add Members you want to insure

Mobile Number

Port my existing Policy

You can select more than one member

-+ Max kids

(s)

Registration Number

Mobile Number

+91

City

Mobile Number

+91

OR ENTER YOUR REGISTRATION NUMBER

DON'T KNOW YOUR REGISTRATION NUMBER

or renew digit policy

I agree to the Terms & Conditions

Switch to Digit Insurance

Natural Disasters in India: Types & Causes Explained

natural disasters in india — (Source: worldatlas)

Natural disasters are unpredictable that can cause major loss to life and property. It may take years to rehabilitate and repair the damages caused by the natural calamities.

Hence, it is essential to keep yourself updated regarding the types of natural disasters and the damages.

Keep scrolling to learn about major natural disasters in India.

What Is a Natural Disaster?

Natural disasters are catastrophic events that threaten the safety and function of a community. It can damage both public and personal properties significantly.

These disasters can range from hurricanes, floods to tsunamis and avalanches. You should know that apart from natural causes, disasters can occur due to anthropogenic causes.

Activities like deforestation, agricultural practices, mining, etc., can cause landslides. In addition, wildfires can again damage the natural habitat of plants and animals.

Let’s check what the types of natural disasters are to understand this concept better.

What Are the Different Types of Natural Disasters?

There are 5 major types of natural disasters. These are -

Geological disaster

Changes in the above or underneath the earth's surface cause geological disasters. The effects of natural disasters due to tectonic plates are unpredictable and beyond human control. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, avalanches, etc., are examples of geological disasters.

Hydrological disaster

Hydrological disasters are caused due to sudden changes in the quality or distribution of water below the earth’s surface or atmospheric conditions. Flood and drought both fall under hydrological disasters. These disasters can cause harm to agriculture and properties. Limnic eruption, Tsunami, Volcano, etc., are examples of Hydrological disasters.

Meteorological disaster

Meteorological disasters are mainly caused by extreme weather conditions such as drought, snow, and rain. These disasters affect the weather forming process and atmospheric conditions. Examples of meteorological disasters include blizzards, drought, cold waves, tornadoes, cyclonic storms, etc.

Space disaster

This includes disasters caused due to asteroids, meteors, and solar flares.

Wildfires

Natural disasters like drought and lightning can lead to wildfires. However, many humans also start fires in forests to create space for agricultural land.

Now let’s check what causes natural disasters. This will help you in implementing the needed disaster management techniques.

What Causes Natural Disasters?

The major causes of natural disaster include -

Natural phenomenon
Moon activities
Tectonic movement
Soil erosion
Deforestation
Ocean currents
Air pressure
Seismic waves
Pollution
Global warming
Mining

Now let’s have a look at the effects of natural disasters in India.

What Are the Effects of Natural Disasters in India?

The common effects of natural disasters include -

Damages to infrastructure
Food and water scarcity
Public health issues and diseases
Environmental issues
Economic impact
Fatalities
Injuries and emotional impact

India ranks among the three countries that bore the impact of natural disasters in recent years. Nearly 108 crore people were affected, while 79,732 people have lost their lives in these natural incidences in 2021.

Now let’s check the list of major natural disasters in India that occurred over the year and their impact.

List of Major Natural Disasters That Occurred in India till Date

Here is a list of the major disasters that have taken place in India up till now.

1. Kerala Flood

Occurrence- 2018
Fatalities- 483

Kerala received 310mm of heavy rainfall in the first 48 hours. This led to the overflowing of dams.

2. Kashmir Flood

Occurrence- 2013
Fatalities- 550+

Continuous rainfall and swelling of the Jhelum river caused a major flood in Kashmir. It caused damage worth ₹6000 crores.

3. Uttarakhand Flood

Occurrence- 2013
Fatalities- 5700+

A huge cloudburst caused landslides and flash floods in Uttarakhand from 14th June to 17th June. More than 1 lakh pilgrims were struck in the Kedarnath shrine.

4. Tsunami

Occurrence- 2004
Fatalities- more than 227,898

An earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 to 9.3 caused this disaster. The tsunami had a major impact on people’s lives. Most households in India, Andaman 7 Nicobar Islands and Sri Lanka were affected.

5. Gujarat Earthquake

Occurrence- 2001
Fatalities- more than 20,000

The Richter scale showed 7.6 magnitudes. It damaged nearly 4 lakh homes. This earthquake lasted for 120 seconds.

6. Odisha Super Cyclone

Occurrence- 1999
Fatalities- more than 15,000

It was marked as the most dangerous tropical cyclone in the North Indian ocean. The cyclone moved at an intensity of 260 km/h. It destroyed nearly 2.57 lakh houses.

7. Bengal Famine

Occurrence- 1770
Fatalities- Approximately 1 crore

This famine was caused due to a failed monsoon in 1769 and continued for two centuries. The British East India company’s exploitive policy and weather conditions lead to this disaster.

Preventive Measures to Follow During Natural Disasters

Since it is impossible to stop the occurrence of natural disasters, it is crucial to find ways to alleviate the adverse effects

These are some methods to reduce the effects of major natural disasters in India -

Preparing emergency measures- medical kits, keeping a tab over weather updates
Reforestation
Risk reduction methods- building shelters and stocking food supplies
Information sharing
Investing in technology for accurate weather predictions
Economic support
Evacuating areas closer to disaster

What Are the Dos and Don'ts During Natural Disasters?

The dos have been already mentioned under the preventive measures. So now, let’s check at the don'ts.

Move around or outruns a disaster
Go near-live wire or debris
Don’t take shelter under a flimsy structure
Avoid standing under the trees
Stay away from river or sea areas during cyclones and floods
Avoid using gas stoves or electronic gadgets during a disaster.

Follow these measures to protect yourself from the major impact caused by natural disasters. However, a catastrophe causes major damages to property and livestock. Managing the repair cost and funds can be problematic for many.

In this regard, insuring the valuables would compensate for the losses.

Insurance Products People Residing in the Natural Disaster Prone Areas Should Buy

These are some insurance policies individuals residing in natural disaster-prone areas should check.

Home Insurance: Insuring a house can be helpful during disasters. The policy covers the damage caused by natural events like floods, cyclones and storms. Additionally, it also gives coverage against theft and burglary.
Life Insurance: A life insurance policy is a contract between a policyholder and insurance company that promises to pay a sum after the death of an insured person. It offers an insured and his/her family financial protection during unforeseen events. You can also find some policies that offer additional add on options like accidental death benefit, critical ill benefit, etc.
Vehicle Insurance: Vehicle insurance gives protection against natural calamities and disasters. It also covers accidents and theft. Individuals can avail the policy against their vehicle and get compensation for damages caused by natural disasters.

Additionally, individuals can check disaster specific insurance policies for a sustainable solution.

There has been much technological advancement to calculate the occurrence of natural calamities. However, preventing the damages caused by these calamities is impossible.

Hence, detailed knowledge of the types of natural disasters and the ways of disaster management can help individuals combat such situations better. In addition, check the weather forecast or radio for updates on disasters in India.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ Which is the disaster management body of India?

The National Disaster Management Authority is the apex body for Disaster Management in India.

✓ Should I go to higher ground during a Tsunami?

No, you should stay in a shelter or a building away from the sea.

Other Important Articles about Natural Disasters

Landslides in India

Flood Prone Areas in India

Landslide Prone Areas in India

Causes of Flood in India

Natural Disasters in India

Dos and Don’ts During a Landslide?

Tips to Ensure Asset Protection from Natural Disasters

Earthquakes in India

Earthquake Prone Zones in India

Necessary Precautions During Floods

Tsunami Prone Areas in India

Precautionary Steps to Follow for Cyclone

Cyclone Prone Areas in India

How are Cyclones Formed?

Drought Prone Areas in India

What to do during an Earthquake?

Show more

More Insurance Guides

Types of Insurance

Types of General Insurance

Deductibles in Insurance

Depreciation in Insurance

What is Consequential Damges

Subrogation in Insurance

How to get International Driving License in India

Buy Insurance Policy Online

All about FASTag Card

What is an Insurance Actuary?

List of Car Insurance Companies in India

List of Two Wheeler Insurance Companies in India

List of Health Insurance Companies in India

List of General Insurance Companies in India

List of Insurance Companies in India

List of Life Insurance Companies in India

List of Term Insurance Companies in India

Show more

Get our app

Download man

App Store

Google Play

Health Insurance Guides

Car Insurance Guides

Bike Insurance Guides

Calculators

Income Tax Guides

RTO Offices in India

Important Links

Car Brands & Models

CIN: U66010PN2016PLC167410, IRDAI Reg. No. 158.

Go Digit General Insurance Limited (formerly known as Oben General Insurance Ltd.) - Registered Office Address - 1 to 6 floors, Ananta One (AR One), Pride Hotel Lane, Narveer Tanaji Wadi, City Survey No.1579, Shivaji Nagar, Pune-411005, Maharashtra | Corporate Office Address - Atlantis, 95, 4th B Cross Road, Koramangala Industrial Layout, 5th Block, Bengaluru-560095, Karnataka