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How can tropical cyclones worsen flooding in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta?

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Map showing the course of the Brahmaputra River as it flows from southwestern China through northeastern India and into Bangladesh, with surrounding countries including Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Afghanistan labeled. The river's path is highlighted in blue, and major international boundaries are marked. — Brahmaputra River Brahmaputra River.

Tropical cyclones exacerbate flooding in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta primarily through the generation of storm surges. As these cyclones sweep inland from the Bay of Bengal, they cause a rapid, temporary elevation of sea level that forces seawater into the low-lying delta region.12

This surge of water inundates vast areas, often compounding the existing flood risks associated with the region's heavy monsoon rainfall and the massive discharge of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. The impact of these events can be catastrophic; for instance, the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta cyclone of 1970 resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, largely due to drowning as the surge overwhelmed the densely populated landscape. Protecting vulnerable populations from such natural disasters remains a critical humanitarian and ethical imperative.132