Question

Which of the following statements comprehensively summarizes the definition of a disaster as per the Disaster Management Act, 2005?

1. A disaster is a serious event caused solely by natural factors, leading only to property damage.
2. A disaster is a catastrophe from natural or human-made causes, resulting in significant loss of life, suffering, property damage, or environmental degradation, whose scale overwhelms the affected community's coping ability.
3. A disaster is any minor incident that causes slight inconvenience to a specific area.

• A. ഒന്ന്
• B. ഒന്നും രണ്ടും
• C. രണ്ടും മൂന്നും
• D. രണ്ട് മാത്രം

Answer 1

Answer:

D. രണ്ട് മാത്രം

The Disaster Management Act, 2005, provides a comprehensive and multifaceted definition of a disaster. It is not limited to natural events but includes those arising from human actions, accidents, or negligence. Crucially, its impact must be severe, leading to significant loss of life, human suffering, property destruction, or environmental degradation. The most distinguishing feature is that the event's scale or nature exceeds the local community's capacity to cope. This holistic definition ensures that a wide range of catastrophic events that require coordinated, multi-level response are officially recognized and managed under the Act.