ABSTRACT
The number of people affected and killed due to the impact of cyclones and earthquakes in the Indian subcontinent are on the gradual rise. It is a matter of deep concern that majority of the sufferers in the subcontinent are people from lowest socio-economic strata. The predominant material used for construction of roofs or walls of their houses are non-engineered. Damage reports of representative tropical cyclones and major earthquakes, occurring in the subcontinent in the last 50 years, identify respectively failure of sloped roof structures and that of masonry wall junctions as the principal damage features. Remedial measures may be attempted by properly connecting structural elements of buildings at their junctions, thereby augmenting junction strength. Paucity of funds and of technical personnel in the subcontinent, in the midst of huge number of buildings, warrants prioritization of buildings that need focused attention. Suitable RVS procedures are to be followed in this regard. In the face of these damages, a few artisanal technologies are discussed, which provide indigenous solutions to the twin natural disasters. Tailor-made research is needed to improve construction practices by combining positive indigenous experiences and crucial technical inputs together, without changing the major flavor of materials and construction practices.
