Disasters in India Context: The Role of Social Work in Disaster Management

Disasters, whether natural or caused by humans, pose serious threats to human life and well-being. Events like cyclones, earthquakes, and heavy rains are often natural, but human activities can make their impacts worse. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate change caused by humans has increased the frequency and severity of extreme weather events worldwide. In India, rapid urban growth, deforestation, uncontrolled industrialization, and poor land use have made people more vulnerable to both natural and human-made disasters. Additionally, new threats like chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards show how complicated modern disaster risks can be. This paper looks at the changing role of social work in disaster management through examples from India. It highlights important types of disasters, including the five deadliest natural and human-made disasters in the country, and examines how social workers take part in response, recovery, and building resilience. Using secondary data, the study points out the need to include social work