Bill To Amend Disaster Management Act Tabled in Parliament

New Delhi: Union Minister Nityanand Rai introduced a bill to amend the Disaster Management Act of 2005 in the Parliament on Thursday. This comes in the wake of a devastating week marked by rain-related incidents that claimed over 300 lives, with Kerala's Wayanad suffering the most significant damage.

The revised bill includes a provision for establishing a disaster database at both national and state levels to ensure timely assessment and response. It also proposes the creation of an Urban Disaster Management Authority for state capitals and major cities.

The disaster database will encompass details on fund allocation, expenditures, and the preparedness and mitigation plans as outlined by the Centre.

In the past 24 hours, rain-related incidents have resulted in more than 30 deaths across seven states, while devastating landslides in Kerala's Wayanad have claimed nearly 300 lives.

The Congress has called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah to declare the Wayanad landslides a "calamity of severe nature" to enable prompt assistance from MPs to the affected areas.