Since time immemorial disasters have been a regular companion of mankind. They continue to strike unabated and are perceived to be on the increase in their magnitude, complexity, frequency and economic impact. Ninety nine percent of natural disasters and ninety five percent of total disaster related deaths worldwide occur in developing countries. The unique geophysical setting, unplanned developmental activities and population explosion of the Indian sub-continent make this region highly vulnerable to all types of natural as well as human induced disasters. Each one of them impinges its own signature with variations in terms of destruction, death, disability, diseases, panic and fear among the population at risk and creates a complex emergency to bring back normalcy for the victims.

Industry, agriculture and military defence produce over 25,000 chemicals that are capable of producing harmful effects in humans. Chemical exposure can occur by four routes, namely, direct contact to skin and eyes; inhalation, ingestion and injections or puncture wounds. Sometimes the exposure could be a combination of routes. For example, when a person swallows a chemical, he could also inhale some as well as have some come in contact with the face or lips. Hence we see chemicals themselves and processes that use chemicals are inherently dangerous. A great deal of attention has to be paid to process safety and mitigation.

Normally, mitigation of disasters is prompted by predictions and studies of the likely consequences of hazards. The recognition that the damage could have been avoided can generate protection against an impending disaster. Any action to improve the pre- disaster conditions can help to reduce disaster risk as well as the devastation and misery caused by the future crisis.

Key to disaster management is an accurate and timely diagnosis of the criticality of the problems and the dynamics of events that ensue.