Natural Disaster and Its Devastation

Abstract

‘Disaster is a crisis situation that far exceeds the capabilities’. Disaster includes natural and man- made disasters. Natural disasters are brought about by change in natural phenomenon or what is known as acts of God. Manmade disasters are also known as anthropogenic disasters and they as a result of human intent, error or as a result of failed systems. Natural disasters include things such as floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, landslides and hurricanes. Manmade disasters are technological hazards, sociological hazards and transportation hazards etc .Earthquake being a type of natural disaster is being given specific importance in these journal due to recent devastating effects of earthquake in Nepal and neibouring countries like India. Along with incidence of Nepal earthquake, list of 10 most powerful earthquakes is mentioned to know the magnitude of devastation caused by earthquake. Like earthquake, be it any disaster, manmade or natural, almost everyone in the population is affected by it. It gives a brief account of psychiatric morbidities due to disasters in India. Those who suffer damage are called victims. The victims may die or live. Those who manage to live are called survivors. No particular event is guaranteed to result in post-traumatic psychopathology. It also mentions briefly of what disaster is and types of disasters are natural and manmade.