News & Blogs from Pakistan
Posts tagged Landslide
ATA ABAD LAKE RISES TO THREATENING 353 FOOT LEVEL
May 16th
GILGIT-BALTISTAN: The water level at landslide-triggered lake in Ata Abad area of Hunza, has fast risen to 353-foot level today, Geo News reported Sunday.
The people residing in the Danger Zone are being stressed upon to evacuate to safer places, as the lake has risen to a threatening level of 353-foot level owing to the rapid meltdown of glacier in the last two days.
According to Focus Foundation monitoring the Lake, 18 to 22-foot cusecs of water is falling into the lake; while, water flowing out of the Lake at seven different points is recorded at 80 to 84 cusecs.
The water is fast approaching to the Lakes mouth, where a spillway has been constructed for water outflow. The water will start pouring out of the spillway within a couple of days and this will be the moment when a massive flood is being feared as a result of huge outpouring of water or breakdown of spillway under severe pressure.
According to the survey, some experts voiced apprehension that the mountain present on each side of the Spillway could throw its debris down at the time of water outpouring and may again cause the closure of Lakes passage.
Seeing the situation, a total of 18 relief camps have been set up in Gilgit and Hunza; of them, nine are in Hunza Nagar and nine others in Gilgit.
Meantime, the people still living in an area declared as Danger Zone, have been sternly warned to evacuate to the relief camps; otherwise, they would be forced out of their places.
RELIEF CONSIGNMENT ARRIVED FOR HUNZA LANDSLIDE AFFECTEES
May 16th
ISLAMABAD: In compliance with the directive of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, the relief consignment from Emergency Relief Cell (ERC) of Cabinet Division has arrived for people affected by landslide in Hunza Valley, Geo news reported.
The consignment comprises 2,000 tents, 2,000 blankets, 10,000 plastic mats, 2,000 jackets, 5,000 family rations packets, medicines, life jackets and generators worth Rs.47.319 million, says a press release.
The 6th Aviation Squadron of ERCs helicopters also participated in relief and rescue operation in Hunza Valley with 427 flying hours.
As many as 259,837 kilograms of relief goods were delivered and 6,955 persons were evacuated, the press release added.
ATA ABAD LAKE ON SURGE TRADERS VACATE SOST
May 15th
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.
DROWNING HUNZA
May 13th
On 4th January, 2010 a landslide caused a blockade at the Hunza River; no one knew at that time the effect of this landslide and our government ignored it as if it will go on its own. Days gone by the landslide and it caused a creation of an artificial lake at the area of [...]
DAVID CAMERON TAKES THE REINS IN BRITAIN
May 12th
LONDON: Britain woke up to a new political era Wednesday with its first coalition government since World War II, an unlikely marriage between the right-wing Conservative Party, reborn under modernizing new Prime Minister David Cameron and the left-leaning Liberal Democrats.
With a handshake, smiles and waves, Cameron welcomed his new coalition partner, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, outside the shiny black door at 10 Downing Street and set off on the business of running the country.
The alliance was necessary because no party won a majority of parliamentary seats in last week”s national vote. Britons struggling to make ends meet during a punishing recession have been enraged at politicians of all stripes after a damaging lawmakers” expense scandal last year.
Once described as sandal-wearing hippie academics, Clegg”s Liberal Democrats have emerged from the political fringe to the top rung of government.
The party is expected to gain five Cabinet seats and more than a dozen junior government roles in what will be one of the least experienced governments since Tony Blair”s Labour Party won a landslide victory in 1997.
Of course, we must recognise that all coalitions are about compromise,”” Cameron wrote. This one is no different.””
Cameron said the coalition agreement commits the next government to a significantly accelerated reduction in the budget deficit, to cut 6 billion pounds ($8.9 billion) of government waste and to stop an increase in the national insurance tax.
Cameron, in an e-mail to supporters, said the agreement allows Conservatives to move forward on school and welfare reform and rejects Liberal Democrat pledges to get rid of nuclear submarines, offer amnesty to illegal immigrants or handover any additional powers to them.
The government will immediately begin tackling Britain”s record 153 billion-pound ($236 billion) deficit. It is still unclear whether the Liberal Democrats will back the Conservatives” plan to begin immediate spending cuts, a punishing course of action that isn”t likely to win praise from the electorate.
Labour, meanwhile, took steps to regroup, with the maneuvering under way for the job of party leader. David Miliband, the former foreign secretary, has emerged as a top candidate and has earned the backing of another early favorite, former Home Secretary Alan Johnson.
Brown”s deputy Harriet Harman would become interim Labour leader until a formal leadership takes place to select his permanent successor.
The 43-year-old Cameron became Britain”s youngest prime minister in almost 200 years, the last was Lord Liverpool at 42, after cementing a coalition deal with the third-place Liberal Democrats. Clegg and four other Liberal Democrats received Cabinet posts. A number of other Liberal Democrats would receive junior posts.
The agreement, reached over five sometimes-tense days of negotiation, delivered Britain”s first coalition government since World War II.
This is a genuine compromise between the parties,”” Hague said.
SURGING HUNZA LAKE TURNS ANOTHER VILLAGE INTO ISLAND
May 12th
GILGIT-BALTISTAN: Landslide-triggered lake in Hunza continued to rise, as another Gojal village of Gilmat turned into island, Geo News reported Wednesday.
The most of Karakoram Highway came under water in Gojal tehsil headquarter of Gilmat, cutting off Gilmat from other areas of Gojal. The disastrous water level turned Gilmat into an island with over 2500 people stranded there.
Meantime, the water level in Ata Abad Lake is persistently rising.
The high-ups are taking stock of the havoc that could possibly be wrought by the outpouring from the spillway of the lake. Control rooms and help centers have been set up on various points in Gilgit and Hunza.
The affected people lambasted government for maladministration, as no better measures were taken up after the lapse of even four months.
The lake-displaced people said if the same indifference of the government continued, they would be forced to leave their camps for the devastated areas.
