Monday 7 October 2013

Elderly man killed by rockfall in Guwahati, Assam.

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.


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