Geological Disasters
Earthquake:-
Based on tectonic features and records of past earthquakes, a seismic zoning map of India has been prepared by a committee of experts under the auspices of Bureau of Indian Standard. In this seismic zoning map, most of the area of Punjab State lies in Zone III and IV. However, northern boundary of Punjab State with Himachal Pradesh is in close proximity to Zone V. The Zone III and IV are broadly associated with a seismic intensity VII and VIII on MMI scale respectively. It may be mentioned that the seismic intensity VII on the MMI scale corresponds to horizontal ground acceleration range of 18-240 cm / sec2 or an average acceleration of 67 cm / sec2 in any direction and the seismic intensity VIII on MMI scale corresponds to horizontal ground acceleration range of 51-350 cm / sec2 or an average acceleration of 172 cm / sec2in any direction. The ground acceleration and hence seismic intensity of an earthquake at a place depends on the magnitude of an earthquake, distance from the focus, duration of earthquake, characteristics of underlying soil and its damping characteristics. Generally, the damage to the buildings founded on sandy soil will be higher than that in similar type of buildings having their foundation on hard bedrock. Also, the damage will be higher for higher magnitude and long duration earthquakes, less epicentral distance, soft soil conditions and areas with high liquefaction potential.
Atmospheric disasters
Hailstorm
Hailstorms consist of precipitation in the form of balls or irregular lumps of ice formed when updrafts in thunderclouds carry raindrops into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere. Slight hailstorm is sparse usually small in size and often mixed with rain. Moderate hailstorm is abundant enough to whiten the ground. The heavy hailstorm includes at least a proportion of large stones. Punjab state often gets affected by moderate to heavy hailstorms. In the past such hailstorms have often affected the standing crops, trees, vehicular traffic, telecommunication services etc.
Heat Wave
Climatic changes, decrease in tree cover, depletion of ground water resources and increase in day 
temperature especially in the months of May and June, have made majority of the districts of the state vulnerable to heat wave.
The heat wave condition in Punjab is becoming increasingly prominent and regular. However, the main risk due to heat wave is heat stroke. The main causal factor was identified as lack of awareness and not following certain does and don’ts during heat wave conditions. Though extensive awareness campaigns has reduced large number of fatalities, poor socio-economic conditions lack of enforcement and adoption of working conditions during the summer months and continuing weak facilities to treat heatstroke patients in most PHCs remain the main risks of heat wave. The State has had past histories of vulnerable to hail storms, thunder and lighting deaths or injury nearly every year.
Cold wave
Punjab has experienced cold waves and severe cold waves many times in the past. Cold wave on 02nd January 1990 is worth mention which took toll of 2 persons from Hosiarpur.
Cyclones/Wind Storms
Punjab was badly hit by dust storms during the months from May to July of year 2010. Chandigarh was severely affected alongwith districts of Roopnagar, Ferozpur, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Muktasar, Patiala and Ludhiana. The dust storms occurred on 5 different dates and took a toll of 8 lives. Significant losses were caused to the houses, telecom services, trees, electric poles etc. apart from this Punjab experienced Gale with wind speed ≥ 75 kmph on 12th May 1999 at Sangrur. In this gale 5 persons died and 7 others got injured.
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