Section 54 of DMA : Section 54: Punishment For False Warning

Explanation using Example

Imagine a scenario where John, a local resident in a coastal town, decides to play a prank by spreading a rumor that a massive tsunami is about to hit the coast within hours. He creates a fake government alert and shares it on social media. This message goes viral, causing widespread panic among the residents, who start evacuating their homes in fear. The local authorities spend significant resources to manage the situation and later find out that the warning was false. Under Section 54 of The Disaster Management Act, 2005, John could be prosecuted for causing a false alarm leading to panic and, upon conviction, he could face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine.