But for anyone trapped under rubble without water, the time period is short, very short before the sand runs out on them and they die. It seems to me, that the Indian government fumbled the ball on this disaster. Reports from India, on National Public Radio, described the slowness of the response by the Indian officials. That's a good question, considering huge earthquakes have occurred there in the past. It's the last part of that statement that gives the answer.
Humans tend to see earthquakes as scary events for a while.
Then gradually, over time the memory begins to fade. As the fear lessens, so does the incentive to stay prepared for it. But earthquakes are bound to happen again. After all, the subcontinent of India is slowly moving north. The rocky plates down below eventually will break apart to relieve the stress, the ground will tremble and buildings will fall.