Attabad: Hunza Lake starts spilling
Muhammad Ahmed shared at 09:12:15 am on May 29, 2010 |
Water began seeping out from Hunza lake formed by a landslide into a spillway on Saturday, officials said, who added that the next one or two days are critical to avoid catastrophic flooding.
If the spillway doesn’t contain the water and the landslide dam bursts, authorities fear the heavy flooding could wash away many villages, bridges and roads, affecting up to 50,000 people.
“At this point, the water flow is very smooth but it’s eroding the spillway, widening it,” Gilgit-Baltistan’s Commissioner.
“Let’s see how the water behaves in the next four to five hours, then the situation will be clear.
Officials are hoping for a gradual erosion of the blockage, but they have not ruled out a major breach due to rising water levels from melting glaciers.
The landslide in early January blocked the Hunza River and created a huge lake near Attaabad village. Twenty people were killed and another 25,000 were left stranded upstream, and now struggle to remain linked to the main town of Gilgit.
The Pakistani army created a spillway to drain the 19 km (12 miles) long and 360-feet deep lake.
Lohdi said a major breach in the dam was possible.
“It could burst and cause flash flooding, which will ultimately wash away 34 villages and a part of the Karakorum Highway (KKH)
Nearly 30,0000 villagers have already been relocated to 24 camps.
Head of the army’s relief organisation, Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed, said the erosion of the spillway and blockade would be faster in the next one or two days.
Before the flow of water began, the lake had already swamped at least four upstream villages, displacing nearly 6,000 people, according to aid workers and residents.
The lake has also submerged a 22-km stretch of the Karakoram Highway, a trade route for a significant portion of Pakistan’s consumer goods from China.
A leading trader in the region said the losses from the disaster already amounted to 1.5 billion rupees ($17.8 million), about a quarter of the annual two-way trade along the highway.
Officials said a detailed survey would be carried out after the water receded to assess the damage to the highway. It would likely take months for the highway to reopen.
|
|
||
Repsones to this update ...
-
Ayesha responded at 12:55 am on 06/27/2010 |Hunza – Pakistan A land of Greatest Mountains & Colorful Culture
Hunza is probably Pakistan’s most visited valley, by the tourists. It is a fairy tale land surrounded by beautiful rugged & snow capped mountains. Only at a distance of 100 Kms. from Gilgit Hunza is a small town on Karakorum Highway. At the altitude of 7000 – 800 feet it is the first main town or stop if you are entering Pakistan from China.The central Hunza known as Karimabad is basically a town of just 6 villages. The first main villages as you come from Gilgit on the main Karakorum Highway is Aliabad. There there are spectacular views of Rakaposhi mountain (7788 meters), PTDC Motel Hunza and other small hotels are located on the main Karakorum highway here. Just above Aliabad on the hill are Altit and Baltit villages the heart of Hunza. There is a very interesting Bazaar and two Forts in Altit & Baltit Villages. The Baltit fort has recently been restored and converted into a guided museum.
Hunza is undoubtly the Shangri-la of James Hilton’s novel The Lost Horizon. It is probably the most Photogenic point in the world. There are numerous tours and activities available from Hunza Below you will find some options for bus/culture tourist where as for the adventure lovers .
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0 -
Liaqat Masih responded at 1:30 am on 08/12/2010 |i was in Hunza, june 5-20, in this time, for 8 days i was also in Gulmit Gojal, shishkat, the villages destroyed by the lake water. also shot a documentary there and it is available at youtube, just type there ” The Plight of Atta’abad Land Sliding Victims” or videos by Lyallpuria09,
Misjudgment, Mismanagement and misconception is now resulting in misleading. it was a natural disaster but became a man made disaster.
Agree or Disagree:
0 0 -
Prof Asadullah Kazi, PhD responded at 3:06 am on 08/17/2010 |The best way would be to breach the landslide created earthen dam, and let the impounded water find its natural course. The making of a spillway would not solve the problem, it will only drain the the top few meters of water. We must act now, and must not wait any longer for the dam to collapse. Every attempt must be made to rehabilitate people down stream of the dam.
Agree or Disagree:
0 0 -
M.Ismail responded at 3:34 am on 11/27/2010 |wdgfghjghmhjmhj,
Agree or Disagree:
0 0
Got something to add?
You must be logged in to sumbit a response.