An elderly man has been killed by a rockfall in Guwahati, Assam, on Sunday 6 October 2013. Bahadur Gurung, 80, was sitting at the foot of a slope when he was hit by a rock that had been dislodged following heavy rains. The city has suffered 70 mm of rain within 24 hours, which is linked to a cyclonic depression hovering over the region. 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 6 October 2013 Guwahati rockfall. Google Maps.
Many areas of south and east Asia have suffered a string of flooding and landslide events this year, following an exceptional Himalayan Monsoon and a string of tropical storms. The worst hit countries have been India, China and Nepal, where over a thousand people have died, but no countries in the area have escaped completely unscathed.
See also Man killed in Darjeeling landslide, One dead and one missing following Nepal Landslide, Family of five killed by landslide in Sikkim, At least seven people dead following spoil heap collapse at coal mine in Sundargarh, Odisha State, India and Two women killed by landslide in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
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