ROLE OF HIGHWAY ENGINEER IN NATURAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT

ROLE OF HIGHWAY ENGINEER IN NATURAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT


INTRODUCTION

Disaster is a sudden tragedy that brings about heavy losses to life and property.
Earthquake, floods, tropical storms, landslides, droughts and snow avalanches
are common forms of natural disasters. Suffering due to disasters touch all aspects of
our lives individually and socially. Disasters destroy decades of human efforts and
investments.
Although humanity is armed with new technologies to forecast the natural disaster,
we cannot stop them from taking place. However an effective disaster management
can mitigate the effects of natural disasters on our society.
During disasters huge losses occurs to human life, damages to property and environment
takes place. For example:
1) Recently, the tsunami havoc that has taken place in south-east Asia has killed
more than 10,000 people only in India and also has destroyed eastern coastal area.
Roads have been affected badly and due to this people can’t get help in time.
2) The super cyclone, which hit Orissa State during 1999, affected more than
50% of the 35 million population.
The cyclone winds ripped through several districts at a speed of about 260 km/hr,
which killed more than 15,000 and left millions homeless.