Solution-Class 7- Science-Chapter-10-Disaster Management-Maharashtra Board

(a) Railway accident is the odd one. All others are natural calamities
(b) Drought is the odd one. It is a dry spell, the rest are associated with water
(c) Locusts is the odd one. It is an insect which destroys crops. Lava, hot mud and ash are the substances released during volcanic eruption.
(d) Volcano is the odd one. Washing away of crops, attack of pests on crops and singeing of crops are causes of famine.

(a) Remedial measures for famine are:

• Water should be used judiciously and with care. Proper water management  should be done.
• We should avoid wastage of food and water.
• Reusing the water.
• Planting trees in a very large scale to prevent soil erosion. Prevention of tree felling. If deforestation is stopped, it will help in holding more water in the ground.
• Construction of check dams and adopting water harvesting methods to conserve rain water.
• Since the impacts of climate change are seen everywhere we must plan the food and water supplies.

(b) Remedial measures for lightning strike are:

(1) One should stay at home when there is thundering and lightening

(2) Install a lightening conductor on the top of one’s building

 If indoor:
1. Turn off all the electrical appliances such as television and refrigerator.

If outdoor:
1. Avoid taking shelter under trees on the heights, or in open ground as there is high chance of lightening sticking here.

2. Avoid being near to any kind of metal objects which may include metal wires, fences, machinery and power appliances, an electric pole, a telephone pole, a tower etc.

3. Take shelter inside a fully enclosed car with all the windows shut.

4. Not to get into water tor swimming.

(c) Remedial measures for storm are:

• Do not stand on open ground, below a tree, near electric poles or on high locations.
• Gathering together at one place should be avoided.
• Get down from vehicles like bicycle, tractor, boat, etc. and go to a safer place.
• Swimmers and fishermen should immediately come out of the water.

• During stormy rain, the trees may fall down due to strong winds. Hence trees are to be trimmed to avoid any injury.
• One should take shelter in a safe place. Our whereabouts have to be informed to our family and friends
• The electric supply should be stopped in order to avoid any accidents.
• Other people should be helped if they need any shelter.
• Listening to the radio or any media for the instructions about storms and following the same is very important for safety. People can be relocated and saved from storm which is due to come

(d) Remedial measures for cloudburst are:

• Pay attention to warning issued by the Meteorological department carefully.

• Do not take shelter at the foot of a hill, near river banks or near sea coast. It may be dangerous to wait at such places.

• Be ready with your first-aid kit and other necessary equipment.
• Use battery operated radios and mobiles.
• In the event of cloud bursting there is severe rainfall. Therefore, should move to safe places and also help others to go to safer places.

False. The statement given is a false statement. In fact, information regarding a forthcoming storm should be circulated to everyone. This will enable everyone to get prepared for this natural disaster. Everyone will be equipped with all the preventive measures needed to be taken during the storm.

True. The electrical current from the lightening can enter the water easily and be very hazardous for a person who is swimming. A wet person is more conductive than a dry person. It could cause severe burns or might kill us if lightning falls on our wet body. 

False. Volcanic eruption is a natural disaster which may happen anytime. There is no technology that can stop such calamity. However, by means of science and technology, it is possible to predict an eruption and take immediate steps for disaster management.

True Heavy rains may cause flood in a region. Due to this, food crops, plants etc. of that region are going to get washed away. This is called a wet famine Also, the land of that region will lose it fertility and would require sometime to regain it. Because of these reasons, the region will be affected by famine. Thus, we can say, heavy rains result in famine.

(a) A tsunami is a series of waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean. These waves are generated by an earthquake or volcano erupting on the ocean floor.

• Due to very high temperature near the land, the water coming down from rain clouds does not reach the land in the form of rain. But vapourizes and goes back into the same clouds. This causes large amount of vapour in these clouds.
• When rapid condensation occurs in such a water-laden clouds, a sudden rainstorm falling for a short period of time and to a small geographical area at the rate of 100 mm per hour or more is known as cloudburst.

Various effects of volcano are:

• Whenever there is volcanic eruption, the chemical substances such as lava,
  vapour, hot mud, sulphur, etc. is thrown out.
• These substances are usually present in the interior of the earth's crust. When they are thrown out they form mountains and hills and change the land form.
• It starts raining after a volcanic eruption.
• Nearby forests and settlements get buried under the hot mud.

• Volcanoes add up to the greenhouse gases by ejecting ash and various gases.
• Temperature increases due to hot gases.
• Forests and settlements get buried under the hot mud.
• Mountains and hills are created after volcanic eruption.

To prevent loss of life due to lightning, following measures can be taken

(1) One should stay at home when there is thundering and lightening

(2) Install a lightening conductor on the top of one’s building

If outdoor:

1. Avoid taking shelter under trees on the heights, or in open ground as there is high chance of lightening sticking here.

2. Avoid being near to any kind of metal objects which may include metal wires, fences, machinery and power appliances, an electric pole, a telephone pole, a tower etc.

3. Take shelter inside a fully enclosed car with all the windows shut.

4. Not to get into water tor swimming.

If indoor:
1. Turn off all the electrical appliances such as television and refrigerator.

2. Avoid bathing or showering.

Following are the measures taken by Maharashtra government to deal with calamities such as floods and landslides under the disaster management programme:

• Disaster management Cell has been established by Government of Maharashtra protect the life and property of people of Maharashtra.
• According to this cell, people given warning about the storms, earthquakes or floods, in advance.

• It ensured that all 36 districts will have their own disaster management plans. The district-level disaster management plan has detailed information about geographical details, population, flood-prone areas, villages and other macro details.
• Emergency and evacuation measures to be taken up in cases of heavy downpour, flash floods, landslides, lightning strikes and other natural calamities. 
• A disaster management orientation training programme will be launched soon in 100 schools in every district. The government also decided to impart master trainers training for 50 school teachers from all these schools. 
• Maharashtra School Security Programme will be set up under which steps will be taken to ensure protection of schools and other educational institutions during and after natural disasters.
• The Maharashtra State Disaster Management Plan also consists of special provisions for dealing with women, children, the aged, handicapped and animals.
• If there are landslides or cloudburst causing loss of houses for the people, then Government provides shelter homes. The people are relocated  in case of any threat of natural calamity.

Following things in the house needs to be checked with reference to disaster management.:

• Check whether there are cracks developed on walls or not. If yes, get the repairing done as soon as possible. 
• Check whether glass panes and windows are tightly secured or not. If not, get it done urgently.
• Check whether bulky things hanging from ceiling or walls, like chandelier etc., are tightly secured or not. If not, get it done urgently.
• Check whether there are any broken electric live wires or not . If yes, call the electrician and get it repaired urgently.