ISLAMABAD, May 20 (APP): Rescue activities for affectees of Attabad lake has gained momentum as weather became clear Thursday after several days of rains and winds. Helicopter service has resumed which was postponed Wednesday due to bad weather. However, sunny weather has speed up the melting process of glaciers which will likely raise the water level in the lake. Currently, the level of water in artificially formed 16 km long Attabad Lake which was over 352 feet on the River Hunza has reached dangerous level.
News channels reported Thursday the water level has surged further by 5 feet to 357 feet in the lake, just few feet below of water spillways created to release the water.
Officials say the water was expected to start draining into spillways later by May 22. Water in the lake was rising by one meter daily.
The water from the lake has also submerged parts of Gulmit, a tourist resort on the main Karakoram Highway linking Pakistan with China. The highway has already been closed, badly affecting trade between the two countries.
In wake of possible hazards by the flood, the local administration is engaged in placing cradle bridges at various points of Karakoram Highway.
Flooding from the lake risks affecting 40,000 people with residents from up to 34 villages already evacuated to safety, a top disaster management official said.
Local NGOs say up to 13,000 people have already been displaced. Panicked people took everything they could carry, even doors and windows, as the lake threatened to flood dozens of villages in upstream of Hunza.
As far as restoration of communication links are concerned, PTV’s correspondent from Hunza said after normalization of the situation a path would be constructed during the next three months which would help moving of vehicles to upper parts.
However, the helicopter service would continue to facilitate the residents of the area.
Meanwhile, Federal government has provided Rs 60 million to the government of Gilgit-Baltistan for the relief operation of Hunza affectees and provided one month Ration to the affected families.
Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Mian Manzoor Wattoo said all possible measures have been ensured for welfare and well-being of affectees of Attabad and Hunza. >>>
