Lack of coherent disaster reduction strategy and absence of the culture of prevention as the two main causes of increase in the number of losses due to disaster. As a result, a disaster prevention planning is a necessity to curb the aftermaths that a disaster causes. The recent Chennai floods, Japan tsunami of 2011 and use of social media in help-seeking and information sharing clearly shows how science and tech has its role in mitigating the after affects of disaster. Furthermore, it can help in the following ways :

a) Real time video monitoring of crowds at railway stations. Video analytics would help security agencies get timely alerts when large crowds build up in the station premises and help implement preventive protocols.

b)Flood forecasting, geo-flood mapping zones,flood plain zoning modernization may be useful in knowing the intensity of the flood so as to adopt measures that need to be followed afterwards.

c) Establishing earthquake monitoring centres (seismological centres) for regular monitoring and fast dissemination of information among the people in the vulnerable areas.

d) Use of GPS can be of great help in monitoring the movement of tectonic plates.

e) Initiatives like National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project, which is developing a digital platform that will help determine vulnerabilities to weather-related events along India’s coastline.

With government’s flagship program or Smart cities, efforts should be made to utilize science and technology to make better and resilient cities, that would make mitigation and prevention a cakewalk.