•    India is one of the ten worst disaster prone countries of the world@

•    During the last two decades of the 20th century (1982-2001), natural disasters in India had claimed a total death toll of around 1,07,813 people (on an average more than 5,390 death toll every year)@

•    India has faced more than 260 events of disasters and over 3.5 million people were affected between 1975 and 2001@

•    About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40 million hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of the area is susceptible to drought*

•    In the decade 1990-2000, an average of about 4,344 people lost their lives and about 30 million people were affected by disasters every year*

•    The super cyclone in Orissa in October, 1999 and the Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat in January, 2001 underscored the need to adopt a multi dimensional endeavour involving diverse scientific, engineering, financial and social processes; the need to adopt multi disciplinary and multi sectoral approach and incorporation of risk reduction in the developmental plans and strategies*

•    The monsoons play a critical role in determining whether the harvest will be bountiful, average or poor in any given year**

•    A Disaster Risk Management Programme has been taken up with the assistance from UNDP, USAID and European Union in 169 most hazard prone districts in 17 States including all the 8 North Eastern State*

@ Disaster Management in India (2011), Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI
* Disaster Management in India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
** Natural Disasters and Crop Insurance, Government of India