Three people were killed by a landslide to the north of Beas Kund (the source of the River Beas) in Himachal Pradesh at about 3.30 pm local time (about 10.00 am GMT) on Friday 11 October 2013. Two of the deceased are understood to have been employees of the Delhi-based company Wilderness Experience, who were leading a group of British tourists back to Manali after successfully climbing Mount Shetidhar. These have been named as Alan Slatter, 67, from the UK and Lotus from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. The third person to have died has been named as Sanjay Kumar from the nearby village of Rilu. No other persons are thought to have been injured.
The approximate location of the 11 October 2013 Beas Kund landslide. Google Maps.
The incident is said to have occurred following rain and snowfall in the region, with rescue attempts being hampered by further snowfall. Landslides are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall.
See also Man killed in Uttarkhand rockfall, Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake in southern Himachal Pradesh, Five injured in Uttarakhand landslide, Elderly woman and granddaughter killed by landslide in Uttarakhand and Officials attacked by illegal sand-miners in Himachal Pradesh.
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