Guwahati, Aug 15: The floods in upper Assam, which have claimed over 100 lives so far, displaced thousands and inundated 45,000 hectares of cropl and, were worsened by rapid urbanisation, deforestation and local vulnerability, according to a new attribution study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA).

Scientists from India, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States analysed historical weather records and climate models and found that the rainfall totals were not exceptional, and are expected at least every two years.

“Observed heaviest 3-day and 30-day monsoon rainfall totals associated with the 2026 floods were routine events expected roughly every 1 to 2 years,” they pointed out.