Natural disasters in India: Vulnerability, sustainable preparedness and policy framework

Natural disasters are on the rise today. During the past couple of decades the world has witnessed unprecedented loss and havoc caused by disasters. Indian subcontinent is particularly vulnerable to cycles, droughts, earthquakes, floods and so forth. The loss of human lives, livestock, property, and infrastructure not only causes setback for national development but also renders communities vulnerable and susceptible to further deterioration. The paper starts with a brief assessment of how India has been affected by natural disasters. It seeks to delineate how the country has responded to combat the challenges and the efforts to integrate disaster risk reduction (DRR) into policy framework.