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earthquake

Dhami govt seeks expert opinion on frequent earthquakes

Frequent earthquakes in Uttarakhand over the past several months have prompted the state government to ask expert agencies to identify the causes and suggest specific measures and disaster mitigation plans, if necessary. Expert agencies have started their work as directed by the state but have noted that the Uttarakhand Himalayas witness 2-3 tremors every month.

The lessons learnt since 2004

On Boxing Day 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean near Indonesia set off a tsunami which killed almost 250,000 people. It was the deadliest natural disaster this century, and was probably the deadliest tsunami in human history.

Politics of Aid

Disasters like earthquakes, famines, floods etc., are not the time to pursue political one-upmanship, but that is often the case. The recent Kahramanmaras earthquake in the Turkey-Syria region is believed to have killed over 30,000 and rendered half a million roofless. Aid for Turkey was forthcoming, with at least 105 countries and 16 international organisations pledging support. However, the fate of the already beleaguered Syrians living next door in war-torn times is more precarious, with concerns about the Syrian regime playing on the minds of many donor nations