CONTENTS Preface v 1. Introduction 1 PART - 1 : HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL DISASTERS 5 2. Cyclone 7 3. Flood 25 4. Drought 67 5. Glacial Lake Outburst 78 6. Avalanche 80 7. Heat and Cold Wave 87 8. Forest Fires 95 PART - II: GEOLOGICAL DISASTERS 99 9. Earthquake 101 10. Landslide 115 PART - III : MANMADE DISASTERS 129 11. Epidemic 131 12. Avian Influenza 142 13. Manmade Disaster145 14. Conclusion 186 DISASTER DATA - SOUTH ASIA 2008 189 Appendix I-A : South Asia Disaster Profile 2008 191 Appendix I-B : South Asia Disaster Events - 2008 193 Appendix II : Summary of Storms/Depressions in South Asia - 2008 194 Appendix III : Flood in South Asia - 2008 195 Appendix IV : Extreme Temperature in South Asia - 2008 197 Appendix V-A : Earthquake Data (M > 5.0) of South Asia - 2008 198 Appendix V-B : Earthquake Data of South Asia - 2008 201 Appendix V-C : Earthquake Data of South Asia - 2008 204 Appendix VI : Landslide Events in South Asia - 2008 205 Appendix VII-A : Epidemics in South Asia - 2008 207 Appendix VII-B : Epidemics in South Asia - 2008 as compiled by ProMED 208 Appendix VIII : Avian Influenza in South Asia - 2008 212 Appendix IX : Technological Disasters in South Asia in 2008 213