India, Aug. 20 -- As the delayed monsoon revived in India, severe floods gripped 10 states by the first week of August. Over a million people were affected, with 0.3 million evacuated to relief camps. India has long normalised floods as a recurring disaster. Annually, floods affect 7.17 million hectares (mha), of which nearly 4 mha is cropped area; they kill 1,654 people and over 0.6 million cattle; and damage 1.2 million houses. According to the National Disaster Management Authority, based on an assessment for 1996-2005, the average annual flood damage was worth R4,745 crore, compared to R1,805 crore for the preceding 53 years. Increasing damage points to rapid urbanisation, development and economic activities.

In recent decades, flood...