Kashmir’s Story of Disaster is Not Natural 

Earthquake and flood hazards turn into disasters because of human inaction; evidence is Kashmir

THE earthquakes and floods in any part of the world are turning into disasters mainly because of our inaction; this concern was the central theme of the #NoNaturalDisasters Conference in London, held in September 2022. The first such conference in the world that takes a radically different stand on how disasters are unnatural. The name of the conference suggests the unnaturalness of disasters, which is why the campaign started in 2017 and has attracted some traction internationally. The main goal of the forum and the campaign is to alert people nationally and internationally about using the word Natural in disasters because it blames nature when disaster strikes and gives an easy route to authorities, including politicians, to escape responsibilities and questions on how hazards turn into disasters.

The scientific data suggest that most disasters are caused by human inaction. For example, when the magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurred in Muzferabad, Pakistan, in 2005, it instantly became a catastrophe by killing more than 80 000 human lives, causing innumerable losses to other forms of life, including livestock, and billions in economic losses. A much higher magnitude earthquake occurred in New Zealand in 2016 and resulted in the loss of two people. The quake was of magnitude 7.8 and struck on November 14, the largest earthquake in the country in the past 100 years.

Comparing the losses in the two earthquakes mentioned above clearly maps the unnaturalness of disasters. Pakistan was not ready to face earthquakes, while Newzealand was ready, which made the difference. And the main question is about who should take responsibility for inaction. For example, we routinely get a quick reaction from parents and authorities when an educational institute does not perform in a competitive examination; either the teachers have to explain their position, or other action will be taken. Therefore, it is straightforward to map who should take the blame when a hazard turns into a disaster.

At the conference, I demonstrated through evidence-based research that the inaction of authorities and people in Jammu and Kashmir had turned past hazards and disasters, including floods and earthquakes. Unfortunately, even now, no systematic planning is in sight, which would have given us a sense of safety and security incase of  an earthquake or flood. Therefore, we are bound to face problems in the future, which could be much harsher than what Pakistan witnessed in 2005. Only thinking about it sends chills down the spine.

I am not sure how people can sleep peacefully in a region like Kashmir, where the occurrence of earthquakes is always looming, a doubtless forecast. What surprises me is that the ground is not prepared for it, which is very scary. Therefore, we must generate a sense of urgency by involving people, scientists, and other stakeholders worldwide to campaign for the safety and security of nations that face dangerous hazards that could turn into disasters. The fact that most of the threats are turning into disasters by the inaction of humans makes it evident that humans have to take responsibility and ought to act responsibly for safety and security from floods, earthquakes, and so on. And if there are apparent lapses in stopping a hazard from becoming a disaster, we must ask questions and take appropriate actions. It is time to do that and not wait for the dangers to become disasters.

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