How did the 1970 Bhola cyclone affect the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta?

The 1970 Bhola cyclone was a catastrophic event that devastated the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, a low-lying and densely populated region in what was then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).12

On November 12, 1970, the cyclone made landfall with wind speeds of 115 miles (185 km) per hour, accompanied by a massive storm surge of approximately 35 feet (10.5 meters). This surge flooded numerous flat islands within the delta system, with Bhola Island—the largest in the region—suffering particularly severe impacts. The flooding wiped out entire villages, and the vast majority of the estimated 300,000 to 500,000 fatalities were caused by drowning.12

Beyond the immediate humanitarian tragedy, the disaster had profound political consequences. The failure of the West Pakistan government to provide adequate aid to the affected region fueled widespread unrest and resentment, serving as a critical catalyst for the Bangladesh Liberation War that began the following year.123