Water and Disasters—A Case Study of India

Natural disasters frequency has increased over the past decades. Water is the force behind every physical and chemical process on earth, and disasters are no exception. Water is the reason behind nearly 90% of the disasters. India has braved 360 natural disasters between the years 2000–2020, affecting almost 1120 million people. Floods and storms have been the most predominant disasters in India for 21 years, affecting more than 424 million people. These disasters lead to substantial loss of life and property and render the affected population homeless many times with little or no resources for survival. The impacts of natural disasters like floods, drought, tsunami and cyclones upon water sources was investigated through literature to understand the various scenarios presented by these disasters. The effects on water supply system were also examined. Studying these scenarios helps determine the mitigation measures of disasters and make technologies that can be useful in these situations.