Natural Hazards and Disasters

While population growth and dams contribute to water stress, droughts are direct, acute events that cause immediate and severe water crises by depleting available supplies.

Answer is B.

Lightning occurs because of electric discharge.
Lightning is one of the most powerful natural forces on the planet. It is a natural discharge of the static electricity built up in storm clouds. Most lightning is formed as a part of thunderstorms. We know from observation of static electricity that static electrical discharges such as lightning are caused by separation of charges into positive and negative ions. Over time more of one charge builds until its natural attraction to the opposite charge causes it to migrate in an electrical discharge.

The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization, including Mohenjo-Daro, is attributed to a combination of factors including environmental changes, floods, earthquakes, and potential shifts in river paths.

Air pollution is an environmental hazard resulting from human industrial, transportation, and agricultural activities. Earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods are natural phenomena.

The Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, became infamous for catching fire multiple times due to industrial pollution. These events were a major catalyst for the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972.

The 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine is considered the worst nuclear power plant accident in history. It resulted in a massive release of radioactive material and the permanent evacuation of the surrounding area.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 was the largest marine oil spill in history. It was caused by an explosion on an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in significant environmental and economic damage.

The 1984 Bhopal disaster in India involved the release of methyl isocyanate gas from a pesticide plant. It is widely regarded as the world's worst industrial disaster due to the high death toll and long-term health effects.

The Three Mile Island accident in 1979 was a partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania. It was caused by a combination of mechanical failure and human error, leading to increased public concern about nuclear safety.

Global warming is primarily driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Floods, earthquakes, and tornadoes are generally classified as natural disasters.

Both forest fires and fires in general can be caused by natural phenomena (like lightning) or human activity. The statement incorrectly categorizes them as exclusively one or the other.

Reconstruction is not a component of Disaster Risk Reduction, but rather a phase of disaster management that follows the response phase.

Public awareness campaigns are non-structural mitigation measures that aim to educate and inform communities about disaster risks and promote risk-reduction behaviors.

Cyclones are among the most common monsoon-related disasters in India. They are characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges, which can cause widespread damage and loss of life.

Earthquake-resistant building design is not a measure taken to manage monsoon-related disasters. It is a measure taken to mitigate the impact of earthquakes.