With the looming threat of climate change and vulnerability of India to natural calamities, disaster governance has become a priority for policymakers. The effectiveness of risk reduction measures necessitates a bottom-up model with local governments at the forefront. This paper presents a comparative case study analysis of the disaster management framework and the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the states of Kerala and Odisha, both of which have battled severe disasters yet adopted distinct approaches to recovery. The study also examines how institutional structures, community engagement, and power dynamics shape preparedness to disasters. While Kerala relies on a people-led model, Odisha favours a technocratic model with strong centralising tendencies. A robust theoretical foundation is outlined for the two states, namely the theory of decentralised governance and adaptive governance. A third theory evaluates the role of power in navigating disaster response in Kerala. The findings list the challenges faced by both governance models and underscore the need for a hybrid scenario that takes advantage of community participation and efficiency of institutional structures.