Approach:

Introduction: Define earthquake, and provide the current context of turkey.

Body: Mention about earthquake vulnerability of the Delhi-NCR region. Describe, in brief, the NDMA guidelines on earthquakes and describe steps that can be taken in line with NDMA guidelines.

Conclusion: Suggest a way forward.

Answer:

An earthquake is a sudden and intense shaking of the ground caused by the movement of the tectonic plates caused by the release of energy stored in the Earth's crust. The energy released travels through the Earth's surface in the form of seismic waves, which can cause the ground to shake and cause destruction as was caused recently in Turkey by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake with a loss of more than 3500 human lives.

Delhi-NCR region lies in Zone IV, a moderate to high-risk zone, for earthquakes, and is particularly vulnerable. Additionally, the alluvial basin has the potential to amplify the destruction caused by earthquakes apart from the fact that it is the political centre of India.

NDMA guidelines of 2009 provide a comprehensive framework to reduce earthquake impact as follows:

1. Preparedness: Measures such as conducting regular earthquake drills, creating evacuation plans, and strengthening building codes to ensure earthquake-resistant structures. Strict implementation of building codes adopted in Delhi should be there along with regular earthquake drills.
2. Early warning systems: Development and implementation of early warning systems that can provide timely information to people in the event of an earthquake.
3. Risk assessment: Identify and assess areas at high risk of earthquakes, and develop plans to mitigate the impact of earthquakes in these areas.
4. Search and rescue Development of plans for training personnel for conducting search and rescue operations in the aftermath of an earthquake. Emergency response planning can be ensured in the case of Delhi, particularly in high-population vulnerable areas needs to be there.
5. Relief and rehabilitation: It includes the provision of temporary shelter, food, water, and medical assistance to those affected by an earthquake.
6. Reconstruction: Rebuilding damaged infrastructure and providing housing and other essential services to those affected by an earthquake.
7. Capacity building: Training personnel in disaster management, as well as the development of systems and procedures for disaster response and management.
8. Communication and information management: Establish systems for disseminating information and coordinating response efforts in the event of an earthquake.  The involvement of multiple non-government stakeholders in Delhi needs to be envisaged for awareness.
9. Financial and economic management: Development of mechanisms to allocate and disburse funds for disaster response and recovery efforts. Both the Delhi government and the Centre should cooperate in this regard.
10. Monitoring and evaluation: Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of disaster management efforts to ensure that they are effective and that lessons learned can be used to improve future response efforts.

Some steps have already been taken like adopting strict building codes, conducting regular drills at schools, etc, and risk assessment in high-risk areas. The Delhi government has also developed emergency response plans and steps toward retrofitting crucial government buildings.

However, much more needs to be done regarding the effective implementation of earthquake mitigation efforts. The state and union territory disaster management plans should be further evolved keeping in mind the factors like climate change and evolving technologies. We should move forward as per the Sendai disaster framework to build back better in our efforts toward disaster management.