Sapna Kumari holds a master’s degree in disaster management from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. As a seasoned disaster manager, she is currently engaged in the recovery efforts for the Balasore train disaster. She works closely with the State Disaster Management Authority of Bihar to enhance resilience and recovery strategies.
What is a Centrifugal disaster
A centrifugal disaster is a catastrophic event that spreads outward, causing widespread destruction, chaos, and loss of life. Unlike centripetal disasters that focus inward, centrifugal disasters move outward, making it harder to research, respond to, and recover from them.
Centrifugal disasters impact individuals who do not belong to a permanent community, including terror attacks, hospital fires, mass transportation accidents, industrial accidents, and natural disasters affecting transient populations. Terror attacks such as bombings or shootings instill widespread fear and trauma, while hospital fires expose vulnerable patients to additional risks. Mass transportation accidents, including train derailments and plane crashes, temporarily unite passengers who require specialized response strategies. Industrial accidents at chemical plants or construction sites impact workers and bystanders who often lack pre-existing connections.
Major centrifugal disasters in India include the Urban Terror in Mumbai (26/11), Mumbai Triple Blast (2011), Hospital Fire in Kolkata (2011), and Balasore Train Disaster (2023). These events are marked as centrifugal disasters due to their wide-reaching impact on temporarily congregated individuals.
The Balasore Train Disaster occurred on June 2, 2023, affecting five states: Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha. Initially, efforts focused on addressing the immediate needs of the victims, such as providing food and locating bodies. However, as 70-80% of the victims were breadwinners for their families, long-term support for recovery and rehabilitation became crucial.
In Bihar, the response to the Balasore Train Disaster involved an alliance between the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) and other stakeholders, including Reliance, UNICEF, Jeevika, the Disaster Management Department, TISS Mumbai, and local NGOs. The major challenge was identifying the victims. BSDMA coordinated with organizations to conduct detailed assessments of the victims’ long-term needs and the type of support they had received, planning their recovery accordingly.
One year after the Balasore Train Disaster, some progress has been made. Victims’ families have received compensation from Railways, RCT, PMRF, and CMRF. Identified victims have received livestock support, such as cows, buffaloes, and goats. All deceased families received six months of rations and six months of mobile recharge for livelihood support. However, there is still a need for further support for more victim families.
For missing victims, the government currently lacks provisions from either the railways or government authorities. There is an urgent need to focus on these victims who have not yet received support.
Centrifugal disasters present unique challenges due to their impact on temporarily congregated individuals. Effective response and recovery efforts require coordination among various stakeholders and tailored interventions to address the specific needs of the affected populations. The Balasore Train Disaster underscores the importance of long-term support and the need for continued efforts to ensure comprehensive aid for all victims, including those who remain unaccounted for.
