Calamity 

Definition 

Causes 

Consequences 

Cyclones 

Violent air circulation around low-pressure zones. 

- Warm ocean water  

- High humidity  

- Atmospheric disturbances 

Storms, floods, damage to life and property 

Droughts 

Prolonged shortage of rainfall causing water scarcity. 

- Low or delayed rainfall  

- Uneven distribution  

- Overuse of water 

Crop failure, water shortage, livestock loss 

Tsunamis 

Large sea waves caused by sudden displacement of ocean water. 

- Undersea earthquakes  

- Volcanic activity  

- Landslides or meteors 

Coastal destruction, high casualties 

Heatwaves 

Prolonged period of extreme high temperatures. 

- Dry summer conditions  

- Clear skies  

- Climate change 

Health problems, crop damage, water stress 

Landslides 

Sudden downward movement of rocks and debris. 

- Heavy rainfall  

- Earthquakes  

- Deforestation 

Infrastructure damage, fatalities, road blocks 

Floods 

Overflow of water onto normally dry land. 

- Monsoon rains  

- Silted rivers  

- Poor drainage systems 

Loss of life, property damage, disease outbreaks 

Earthquakes 

Sudden ground shaking due to release of tectonic stress. 

- Tectonic plate movement - Fault line activity  

- Volcanic eruptions 

Building collapse, landslides, casualties 

Cloudbursts 

Intense and localized rainfall in a very short time. 

- Saturated clouds  

- Sudden uplift of moist air - Monsoon influence 

Flash floods, landslides, local destruction 

GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods) 

Sudden flooding from the bursting of a glacial lake. 

- Glacial melting  

- Collapse of natural ice/moraine dams  

- Seismic activity 

Flash floods, infrastructure damage, loss of lives