Answer the following questions:[5 M]

Question 15 Marks

What are the measures to prevent loss of life due to lightning?

Answer

Following are the measures to prevent loss of life due to lightning:

Do not stand on open ground, below a tree, on high location, near an electric pole, near a telephone pole or a tower etc.
Do not lean on wire fences around a farm, a compound, a garden or a house.
If you are on two-wheeler, a bicycle, a tractor or a boat, get off immediately and go to safe place.
Do not gather all together in one place.
Take care to keep a distance of 15 feet between any two persons.
Do not use plugged in electrical appliances. Do not use a mobile or telephone.
Stand on dry wood, a plastic sheet, sack or jute cloth or dry leaves.
Keeping your feet together support yourself on the soles of your feet placing your hands on your knees and crouch low.
Swimmers and fishermen should immediately come out of the water.
A pucca house is the safest place. Find out if there is a lightning conductor on any tall building near your house. If necessary get a lightning conductor fitted on your house.

Question 25 Marks

What is a tsunami? What gives rise to a tsunami?

Answer

Waves generated by an earthquake or volcano occurring on the ocean floor is called ‘tsunami’. ‘Tsunami’ is a Japanese word which means ‘harbour wave’.
As on land, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur, at the bottom of the sea, too.
If an earthquake occurs at the bottom of ocean, the energy released pushes the water upwards. As a result of this particular type of waves are formed.
These waves are not very high near the source, but they start spreading very fast to long distances.
The velocity of these waves is 800 to 900 km/hr. When they reach a coastal area, their velocity is reduced, but their height is found to have increased tremendously even to about 30 m. These are tsunami waves.

Question 35 Marks

What measures have been taken to deal with calamities such as floods and landslides under the disaster management programme in Maharashtra?

Answer

In Maharashtra, all districts have their own disaster management plan to deal with calamities such as floods and landslides.

The plan deals extensively with the emergency, and evacuation measures to be taken up in cases of flood and landslide.
The district-level disaster management plan has detailed information about geographical details, population, flood-prone areas, villages and other macro details.
Nearly 14 such key departments are engaged in disaster mitigation measures and each one has been assigned a specific task to do at times of natural disasters.
The administration is now training master trainers at the district level who in turn will train key persons at village and taluka levels to deal with a natural disaster.
The administration through radio jingles, public advertisements and other measures is informing people about how to react at times of flood and landslide.
Currently, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) gives weather forecast on daily basis and for the next 5 days with advice to farmers on when to start crop sowing and harvesting etc.

Science Answer the following questions:[5 M]