How do tidal surges from Bay of Bengal cyclones damage the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta?

Tidal surges from tropical cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal cause catastrophic damage to the low-lying Ganges-Brahmaputra delta through several destructive mechanisms:

• Inundation: These surges, which involve a rapid elevation of sea level, flood vast areas of the delta’s low-lying coastal regions.12
• Loss of Life and Property: The surges are responsible for immense loss of life, primarily through drowning, and have historically wiped out entire villages. For example, the 1970 Ganges-Brahmaputra delta cyclone resulted in an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 deaths.21
• Secondary Humanitarian Crises: Beyond immediate destruction, the flooding often leads to widespread disease and starvation, which significantly increase the death toll following the storm.3
• Structural Damage: The combination of high winds, torrential rain, and massive storm surges causes severe structural damage to the infrastructure of the delta region.4

These events are particularly devastating because the delta is a densely populated, low-lying region where even moderate surges can penetrate deep inland, causing widespread devastation to both human settlements and livestock.152