A construction worker has been killed in a landslide at Kalimpong in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal State, India. Witnesses report the landslip was quite small, and buried two men, one of whom was able to dig himself out. However the second man was trapped beneath an iron mesh, used to contain building materials, causing delays in digging him out. The worker was taken to a local hospital but declared dead on arrival. He has been named as Ritesh Chettri, a 30 year old man from Bhalukhop. The incident happened on Monday 16 September 2013 following heavy rain in the area over the weekend.
The scene of the Kalimpong landslip on Monday 16 September 2013. Darjeeling Times.
The Himalayas have been suffering the heaviest Monsoon rains in eighty years, triggering widespread flooding and numerous landslides, with more rains forecast over the coming days. 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.
The approximate location of the 16 September 2013 Kalimpong landslip. Google Maps.
See also One dead and one missing following Nepal Landslide, Five die in Nepali landslides, Family of five killed by landslide in Sikkim, At least seven dead following Nepal Landslides and At least seven people dead following spoil heap collapse at coal mine in Sundargarh, Odisha State, India.
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