Hunza Lake in Attabad - potential disaster in the making

[Comet]

HUNZA: The inflow and outflow of water in Hunza Lake is continue on surge whereas heli service in upper parts of the upper Hunza is going on today.

According to official sources, the inflow of water in the lake has been exceeded from 5,000 cusecs due to melting of glacier. More than 5,000 cusec water discharge has been recorded at spillway.

On the other hand, the lake level has been decreased to two inches. The helicopter service for relief work is underway in Galmat, Shishkat and Phasu areas.Also, Gilgit-Hunza section has been opened for traffic

Inflow, outflow rise in Hunza Lake; heli service on

 

[Evil Flare]

 

[Evil Flare]

 

[RescueRanger]

isn't it true that too little was done for this disaster and whatever was done came too late.All these 6 months Govt. was sleeping?when actual landslide happened in early jan.This disaster will be known for govt.incompetency rather than the devastation it has caused.Or is it that Pak govt gives step motherly treatment to northern areas????

Well firstly, before you say anything else think about this... Has the US Government been able to help BP fix the broken well poisioning the waters in the mexican gulf? Does their inability to offer tangible results mean the Obama admin do not care about what happens to the people, wildlife and enviorment there?

What you need to understand is that somthings are beyond the scope of your "SOP or ERP".

Regardless of what you read in the press the NA is one of the most important areas for Pakistan strategically and financially. However this area is prone to frequent landslides due to deforestation, soil degredation and human population in potentially hostile & remote terrain.

Chitral, Baltistan and the surrounding areas have always been the victims of frequent landslides "some minor and some quite devestating".

Both ISDR: International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and NDMA: NDMA Pakistan worked on Risk Assessments and NBA's for this region back in 2007/2008 so one cannot say they don't care about this area or never bothered until now.

A good case study is the 2005 Earthquake: During the quake and its aftermath, massive landslides cut of large parts of the Northern Areas for the rest of Pakistan, the public and media cried (Where is the government, where is the army, where is the imdad)...

Well think of it logically. To respond you need to conduct a Dynamic Risk Assessment: What has happened, what resources are needed, what options are available etc... All this takes a certain ammount of time (Even the US was caught off guard with the latest developments).

The key lesson here: Disasters are un-predictable and no matter how well you prepare yourself, somthing will always catch you out.

 

[gubbi]

The key lesson here: Disasters are un-predictable and no matter how well you prepare yourself, somthing will always catch you out.

Well said. I saw the pics in a chain mail today. I was really amazed at the natural scenic beauty in the areas.

As I understood it was a land slide which blocked off the Hanza river creating a lake which grew to be around 10 miles in length, devouring prime farming land in the process.

However, IMHO, since this lake/reservoir is a sudden natural phenomena, Pakistani authorities instead of draining the lake should opt for controlling the outflow of water from the reservoir and in the process harness the waters and create energy. From satellite pics, one can see that this lake is situated in a valley, a prime location for creating a reservoir.

 

[mr_jay]

Here are some helping hands.. [local.com.pk/hunza]

 

[mr_jay]

here are some helping hands.. [local.com.pk/hunza]

 

[sparklingway]

Such a beautiful, innocent girl crying at a protest against discontinuation of meals by Bait ul Maal.

 

[Comet]

Attabad Lake rises amid bad weather

HUNZA: The water level at a lake generated by natural disaster in Attabad area of Hunza is persistently rising, as it rose higher by one more inch today, Geo News reported Monday.

According to official sources, the glacier melting caused to further increase inflows into the Lake to 5600 cusecs with outflow standing at 5300 cusecs.

The Lake level mounted by seven inches as inflows into the Lake enhanced.

Meantime, helicopter service is feared to be discontinued today as Hunza is overcast with clouds and Gilgit is receiving showers today.

It was notified that Gilgit-Hunza section of Karakoram Highway will remain open till 4pm today and during this while, the transportation of relief goods will continue.

Attabad Lake rises amid bad weather

 

[Comet]

Big stones in spillway of Attabad lake to be removed: Chairman NDM


ISLAMABAD, June 19 (APP): Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) General ® Nadeem has said that efforts would be made to remove three big stones, present in the middle of the Attabad lake spillway.Talking to a private news channel he said the inflow and outflow of Hunza Lake is almost equal and a team of experts will reach Gilgit today tol review spillway’s widening work.He said that there are three big stones in the middle of the spillway. If they are removed, water discharge could reach 15,000 to 20,000 cusecs, which will gradually reduce lake level.
Chairman NDM said dynamite will be used for removing stones and the government in this connection has completed precautions.
About return of IDPs, General Nadeem said the decision about returning of IDPs residing in low-lying areas will be taken after removing the stones and reviewing the lake situation.
Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Big stones in spillway of Attabad lake to be removed: Chairman NDM

 

[RescueRanger]

Experts to review condition of Hunza spillway

KARACHI: A team of experts will take off from Islamabad to Gilgit to ***** the possibility of widening the Attabad spillway.

According to Chairman NDMA General (retired) Nadeem, the team will review the task to broaden spillway. The outflow from the lake has now reached to 8,900 cusecs.

General Nadeem said that three big stones were hampering the flow of the lake. If the stones were removed, the river stream could reach 15,000 to 20,000 cusecs, which would cause a gradual fall in the water level.

He also stated that dynamite would be used to remove the stones and all the precautionary measures had been taken in this regard.

Once the stones were removed, experts would review the situation and decide if it would be plausible to send the IDPs back to their homes. Resuming boat services was also something under consideration. – DawnNews

DAWN.COM | Provinces | Experts to review condition of Hunza spillway

 

[Xeric]

Attabad lake: Army rafts to rescue stranded residents – The Express Tribune

Attabad lake: Army rafts to rescue stranded residents
By Shabbir Mir
Published: February 12, 2011

GILGIT: The government has decided to resume transportation via army rafts in the landslide-triggered Attabad lake, Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Wazir Baig said on Friday.

“We have received a letter to this effect and the government has decided to ferry (people using) army rafts across the lake,” the speaker told The Express Tribune. Baig said that the raft would carry passengers as well as luggage but said that the service would be offered on alternate days. “A raft can accommodate around 150 to 200 passengers so trips on alternate days should be sufficient,” he said. The government had earlier banned boat services in the 23-kilometre-long lake after it froze.

The decision to resume the raft service in the lake has been taken in view of the problems being faced by the stranded people of Hunza and Gojal as bad weather has also forced the suspension of helicopter services between the two towns, Baig said, adding that the raft service would start immediately.

He said that he visited Hunza a couple of days ago and realised the severity of the situation. Baig said if the weather permitted, helicopter services would also be resumed by the end of this month. People in Hunza told the media a few days ago that nearly 300 people had been stranded in Gulmit following the suspension of helicopter and boat services.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2011.

 

[Evil Flare]

this lake is still here ?? i thought that the problem is already solved by spill ways