Making Disasters Relevant- Voices and Experiences from Varanasi

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Through the documentation of voices and data, this booklet, in a diary format, highlights the vulnerability and resilience of modern Varanasi It is a narrative based on original interviews. newspaper reports, and research with the overall aim of capturing the disaster experiences of the people and how they grapple with the impact of climate change on their beloved city and surroundings. The stories explore the lessons from floods, heat and cold waves, and lightning that are the major local hazards now compounded into serious disaster risks by poverty. illiteracy and poor infrastructure.

Yet, while people spoke of disaster as a fateful event, a picture emerging in this book is their enduring courage and selflessness when faced with calamity Indeed, this Diary reinforces how important it is to remember, learn, and take action for better preparedness to save lives and property In other word this publication is about making "disasters relevant.

Varanasi is exposed to climate related disasters such as flood, torrential downpours, thunderstorm, heat wave and cold wave. In consideration that the year of 2016 marked the burning Celsius degree 51 in India, it is the time for Varanasi to be ready for any climate related disasters. The heritage city, Varanasi has experienced several disasters in its past history. The massive flooding and deadly landslides in Uttarakhand in recent years had affected the downstream of river GANGES, and even affected Varanasi too. However, being the oldest city with continued habitat, the city has its own way of coping with changing climatic conditions and different types off disasters. This Disaster Diary is a modest attempt to compile, analyse and learn from the voices and experiences of the people who are coping with the impact of climate change in the city.

The root of this initiative goes back in 2014, when Prime Minister of India, H.E Narendra Modi started his visit to Japan from Kyoto (the historic city and old capital of Japan), and Kyoto Varanasi partnership was initiated SEEDS Asia is grateful to all the contributing stakeholders for developing this Disaster Diary as one of the outputs from the project "Participatory Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction Approaches in Varanasi "The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Government of Japan, and jointly implemented by Banaras Hindu University Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development (BHU-IESD) and SEEDS Asia, in close cooperation with the city Government, schools and communities of Varanasi Special appreciation goes to the people and communities, who shared their experiences with us. We deeply appreciate the collaboration with Banaras Hindu University for our warm friendship and partnership to work for disaster risk reduction in the city.

I hope that this publication would be a modest contribution for enhancing resilience of people and communities in the heritage city of Varanasi.