NEW DELHI: To strengthen disaster management and minimise casualties, the Centre has designated specific ministries and departments to monitor, issue early warnings, and oversee prevention, mitigation, and preparedness measures under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. According to a notification issued by the Union home ministry, avalanches and oil spills will be handled by the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of Earth Sciences will provide early warnings for cold waves, cyclones, tornadoes, earthquakes, heat waves, lightning, tsunamis, hailstorms, and heavy rainfall. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will take responsibility for urban floods (excluding early warning). The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will oversee forest fires as well as industrial and chemical disasters.