Srinagar, Oct. 21 -- Kashmir's geographical and geological setting places it among India's most hazard-exposed regions. Earthquakes remain a major concern, while floods, flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides, avalanches, severe snowfall, high winds and fires add to the region's disaster-risk profile. Rapid urbanisation has added another dimension to this vulnerability. Growing population density, multi-storey construction, narrow access routes and the concentration of people in residential, commercial, educational, healthcare and hospitality buildings can turn a local emergency into a major life-safety crisis.

Disaster preparedness, however, is still largely viewed through the lens of government agencies, emergency services and large-sca...