Environmental Hazards, Disaster Management and Geographical Vulnerability: A Theoretical Study with Reference to India

Abstract

Environmental hazards are increasingly frequent and intense, posing serious challenges to human security, development, and governance, particularly in hazard prone countries like India. This theoretical study examines the interlink ages between environmental hazards, disaster management, and geographical vulnerability with reference to the Indian context. It conceptualizes disasters as outcomes of the interaction between physical hazards and socially constructed vulnerability, shaped by demographic pressures, uneven development, land-use change, and governance structures. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks of risk, vulnerability, resilience, and governance, the study highlights how exposure to hazards such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, cyclones, and water scarcity is unevenly distributed across regions and social groups. Special attention is given to India’s tectonic and hydro-meteorological setting, which amplifies disaster risks amid rapid urbanization and climate variability. The paper argues that effective disaster management requires moving beyond reactive responses toward integrated risk reduction strategies that emphasize spatial planning, resilient infrastructure, community participation, and equitable governance. By synthesizing existing theoretical debates, the study underscores the need for a comprehensive framework that links vulnerability reduction with resilience building and accountable governance to ensure sustainable and inclusive disaster risk management in India.

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