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Ata Abad lake on surge; traders vacate Sost
GILGIT-BALTISTAN: The water level at Ata Abad lake rose to 341 feet, which rang alarm bells causing the traders to evacuate the area of Sost near Pak-China border, as the government deadline for lake burst approached, Geo News reported Saturday.As the scorching heat of summer is causing rapid glacier meltdown and as a result, the water is fast surging, submerging low-lying areas, a bank and several houses situated in Gojal tehsil of Gilmit.
The center of Pak-China trade Sost has been vacated, as the government deadline for Lake to burst is approaching near.
In view of potential flood, the work to remove four suspending wooden bridges in the limits of Hunza Nagar is fast in progress. The removal of these bridges would pose great problems for the people in moving to different areas.
On the directives of authorities in the downstream Shangla, Kohistan and Battagram districts, people residing on the banks of River Indus Friday started moving to safer places due to an imminent breach in the lake formed by a landslide in Attaabad area in Hunza valley.
Also, the district administrations have started registration of the affected families being displaced due to the fear of flood. Official sources said they were anticipating bursting of the lake during the period May 20 to June 4. They said the government would be assisting the displaced families.
Thousands of people were residing on the banks of Indus in the densely populated Bisham town and its surrounding areas, the residents said. They added that people living in Sindh Colony, Bisham Bazaar, Shang, Mera, Dandai, and Thakot, besides those in Pattan, Dubair and Jemal areas in Kohistan district were migrating to safer places.
Sources said that because of rise in temperature, the flow of water in Indus had increased manifold. Due to a heavy landslide in the mountainous village of Attaabad in Hunza Valley, the course of the river was blocked during winter and a large lake was formed.
The authorities were working to make spillways for the passage of water to avoid floods that could submerge the low-lying areas not only in Shangla and Kohistan districts but also in areas located on the banks of Indus in the down country.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has already transferred funds to the district coordination officers in Battagram, Mansehra, Shangla and Kohistan for necessary evacuation of the people.
The PDMA estimates suggested that 900 families in Allai in Batagram district, 2,704 families in Kala Dhaka in Mansehra, 750 families in two sub-tehsils of Shangla and 6,507 families in Kohistan are included in the vulnerable population.
Around 10,000 tents, 15,000 blankets, 10,000 food bags and 1,000 gas cylinders would be required for the four districts to meet the needs in case of evacuation. The PDMA has provided 70 percent of relief items and sufficient funds to the relevant district administration.
“Food items and other relief goods are available in the stock and can be mobilised within an hour,” said Adnan Zafar, Director, PDMA Relief & Operation. “A District Control Room, established in each district by the PDMA, will monitor the situation and report any emergency immediately,” he added.
An early warning system has also been established, through which all the police stations in these four districts have been directed to serve as Information Dissemination Centres and coordinate with the authorities in Gilgit for updates in case of a breach.
They would also ensure to inform the people through announcements from local mosques and other means, Adnan Zafar said. “We are ready for emergency evacuation of the people who are vulnerable to the flood of Attaabad Lake. We will request for helicopters from NDMA if needed,” he said. The DCO Battagram also assured the establishment that three camps would be set up for displaced people in case of evacuation.
Courtesy www.Geo.tv