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From the buried cities of Pompeii to a recent cloudburst in Uttarakhand and GLOF in Nepal, we will explore how nature’s fury can devastate lives. In the following sections, we will contrast ancient helplessness with today’s tools: remote sensing, early warnings, and coordinated relief. With this, valuable lives and loss of property saved and minimised. We will also examine artificial disasters such as terrorism and geopolitical coercion. Vigilance, strong intelligence, public participation and national power are essential for combating the menace. Preparedness is very important in every sphere of life, from disaster management to personal effort.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The article examines nature’s destructive power through historical events like the eruption of Vesuvius and recent disasters in Uttarkashi and Nepal.
- It emphasises the importance of preparedness and modern technology in disaster management, contrasting this with the lack of escape options during ancient calamities.
- The author highlights human-made disasters, such as terrorism, and the need for strong community involvement and vigilance to combat these threats.
- Preparedness is crucial for averting disasters and involves continuous public participation to enhance national resilience.
- The article concludes that people’s willpower can effectively counteract external pressures from hostile nations.
Vesuvius erupted
It roared and ejected. The outburst, accompanied by deafening thunder, started flowing out of its mouth. Pyroclastic flow from up in the crater to down below the slopes engulfed everything that came its way. A huge amount of hot dust and smoke shrouded cities flourishing in its valley below. The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum buried alive beneath the heavy mass of several feet-thick volcanic ash. In 79 AD, furious Mt. Vesuvius swallowed everything in the twin cities.
Pompeii, now a ghost town, is in Italy near modern Naples. It is now like a “living fossil” lying in eternal slumber, showcasing the life and lifestyle of the Romans. The disastrous volcanic attack was drastic and sudden; it did not give time to arrange things or escape. Thinking about preparedness was out of bounds.
Nature red in tooth and claw
Nature sometimes becomes intimidating and ferociously dangerous. It doesn’t show commiseration or sympathy to anyone. With its tremendous power, it smashes everything and anything. It behaves like Brobdingnagians with its massive crushing power and ferocity.
Natural disaster: Dharali, Uttarkashi
Another recent example of Nature’s fury was on 06 August 2025, when a cloudburst occurred in Dharali, near Harsil in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India. The cloudburst above Ksheer Ganga caused a big landslide. It snowballed into a tremendous gush of slush, debris and boulders that came gushing and smashing everything that came in its way. Within no time, the village buried in ten to twenty feet of slush and detritus. Despite best efforts and preparedness, the suddenness of the incident took everyone by storm. Rescue efforts began, but the disaster left deep scars on the human mind. People lost everything, including their near and dear.
Floods in Nepal
Similar such incident happened in Nepal on 26 August this year (26 August 2026). More than 1300 people lost their lives and 5500 missing. It affected estimated 84270 people across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Tanahun districts of the Himalayan kingdom. The fateful incident occurred when a large mass of ice and moraines collapsed near Nepal-Tibet border due to GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood). It outpoured huge surge of water downstream giving no chance to prepare. (UNICEF)
Unanticipated Natural disasters
Natural catastrophes are difficult to predict, if not impossible. Modern technology and space research merged with space exploration have opened new vistas in meteorological prediction, but sometimes it is sudden and doesn’t give time for preparation. It would not be improper to say that prompt preparation is possible, armed with the precise and apt information provided by the remote sensing applications. The tested and tried strategy combats the destruction caused by natural fury and considerably helps in prompt evacuation and taking protective measures.
The cyclone and resulting destruction are a usual occurrence. It used to be destructive, with widespread loss of life and property being a frequent phenomenon. Cyclones cause widespread heavy rainfall, strong gusts of wind, and high tides that create a dance of destruction and loss. Thanks to technological advancement and judicious deployment of rescue and relief operations. The preparedness could check the loss of life.
Measures to help affected
Essential measures—establishment of control rooms, deployment of trained medical personnel, and setup of makeshift hospitals—were taken up on a priority basis. Food, water and medicines provided, and if necessary, air services availed. To accomplish the task with accuracy, the army and air force also pressed into action. With coordinated effective management, many precious lives saved and properties restored.
People were sensitised and trained in basic life-saving techniques. Some given a little more elaborate training to oversee the relief work at the local level. The local contribution and involvement give an impetus to the relief and rescue operation. Locals are the backbone of it, for they know the terrain and area.
disasters are not always natural
Besides natural calamities, there are other types of disasters which are artificial and caused by human activities. The sabotage and conspiracy hatched by a few miscreants or terrorists result in planned murderous attacks and the spreading of terror. Hostile neighbours conspire and support terror and terrorist outfits on their soil to create mayhem. The trained terrorists infiltrate to destabilise the system and terrorise the people. Their aim is to disturb public order and to raise fissiparous elements. With the help and support of the sleeper cells, terrorists sometimes succeed in their conspiracy. The alert and brave security forces and the army successfully thwarted most of the sinister plot well in time. The terrorists eliminated, and public order restored.
The public is the sense organs of the country and its government. Vigilant individuals are effective in quickly identifying and isolating destructive elements, aiding in their elimination and cleansing. The destructive activities by terrorist groups are not natural disasters, but rather the consequence of a few quislings and antisocial elements who, lured by greed, become accomplices of the enemy and assist in their acts of sabotage.
Combating menace
To combat this menace, equal or sometimes more force required. With people’s participation, a strong intelligence system, and effective supervision, the loss of life caused by the terror attack minimised. Strengthening this system and giving a strong message to terrorist outfits by destroying their launch pads has a magical effect in curbing acts of destruction and terror to a great extent.
The strong message to the world and the hostile nation nurturing terrorists given in the ongoing “Operation Sindoor”. A befitting reply given both in the field and in their propaganda war. India’s policy is loud and clear. It is known to all that India is non-interfering and unprovoking country, but perpetrators will have to pay in the same coin if they provoke.
Preparedness
To cope with the eventuality, preparedness is necessary, but at the same time, it is the vigilant people who play a pivotal role in averting any mishap planted by enemies or selfish elements. The systemic loopholes should be sealed, and a flushing out the network necessary. Periodic unclogging of the drain and cleaning for easy and smooth flow of water is necessary; likewise, the terror outfits must be periodically and effectively cleaned. In any system, it is necessary and is being done.
Lack of caution leads to accidents is applicable in every sphere of life; not limited only to the framework that runs a country, but in a small office, or an individual level too. Preparedness of a student guarantees success in examinations. It should be an intrinsic part of daily life.
People’s will power
Powerful nations often impose exigencies on small nations. They try to bully and apply pressure tactics to force an ostensible “developing country” to bow. It is the willpower of the people and the preparedness of the country which safeguards against any such bullying. A sovereign country is free to make its decision keeping in view the broader welfare of the country. Bullying for parochial gains and prohibiting it from making alliances or purchases for the best interests of the country is unwanted and unacceptable. Any act of imposing its will by another country needs to be considered an infringement of sovereignty. It has to be dealt with with firm determination and resolve, with people’s cooperation.
Further reads:
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Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1,200–1,500 words or more regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling intersect.
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