Hunzatimes News Network » Attabad

Latest Satellite image of Attabad Lake By NASA

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:11:28 +0000

The Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite captured this natural-color image of the landslide lake and its newly functioning spillway on July 7, 2010. North is to the right

Attabad affectees start evacuating camps

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:39:12 +0000

By Ijlal Hussain ( Hunzatimes)

HUNZA (HT): The IDPs residing in Altat camp started evacuating camps after flop talks with the government on Wednesday.

At least 500 out of 1200 affectees, mostly young men, started marching towards Attabad lake after the government rejected to provide relief package according to their wishes.

While the protestors said that the decision would be taken for second round of march after reaching at Attaabad lake. Whereas, in second round of long march women, children and elders would also be the part of protestors.

Long march IDPs said that nothing has been done so far, for the reconstruction even after the assurance given by including Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Governor and CM of Gilgit-Baltistan.

They said that Rs 0.6 million was announced as relief package for each lake hit family, which is not adequate. While blaming they said that due to merciless attitude of government we are returning to our devastated areas. No representative has reached here from the side of administration there are only five cops accompanying us.

Meanwhile the inflow of water in Attaabad Lake is 14,100 cusec and outflow 13,470 cusec.

Attabad affectees reject relief package

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 17:50:57 +0000

By Ijlal Hussain (Editor Hunzatimes)
HUNZA (HT): The displaced people of Attabad Lake have rejected the relief package announced by the government, and decided to move to their villages.

Earlier the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had announced to pay Rs 6, 00000 per family but the displaced persons have not accepted this amount.

The villagers have decided to go back to their village on July 07.

During a press conference they alleged that the government’s promises were not genuine. They warned that if the government does not reconsider the relief package, they would march towards their villages.

Wazir Baig asked Hunza’s administration to increase the number of boats

admin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:41:17 +0000

By Amir Ali

Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Wazir Baig has asked Hunza’s administration to increase the number of boats being used to carry people between Hunza and Gojal, officials said on Friday.

Baig issued these directives after hearing complaints of those affected by the Attabad lake. The speaker visited the area to inspect relief efforts being extended to displaced persons. Around 20,000 people have been rendered homeless as a result of the formation of the artificial lake.

Officials saying that the number of helicopter sorties has also been reduced to cut expenditure. The speaker met with people in the Shishkhat and Gulmit villages and assured them of government support.

Earlier, the speaker visited various wheat and grain depots in Aliabad and Altit to check the quality and quantity of stock at hand, officials said. It has become known that the speaker made his visit after people complained that there wasn’t enough supply of food in Hunza.

“The speaker was informed that food stock worth at least two months was available in warehouses for victims of the Attabad lake disaster,” an offical said.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Hunza Zafar waqar Taj has said that the level of water in the lake is decreasing as its outflow is now greater than inflow.

He said that the outflow of water was recorded at 15,427 cusecs while the inflow stood at 14,900 cusecs. “The level of water in the lake has decreased by 3 inches in 24 hours,” he said.

Helicopter service resumes

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:55:00 +0000

By Ijlal Hussain(Editor Hunzatimes)
Helicopter service has resumed in Ataabad after a day’s suspension.The water discharge from Ataabad lake was recorded at 16,607 cusecs while the water inflow decreased to 4 inches due to bad weather.

The helicopter and boat service has been resumed in Ataabad which were suspended for the past two days due to heavy rains.

The administration had asked the affectees of upper Hunza for an extension of three days in the deadline of widening the spillway but no negotiations have been seen yet in this regard.

The affectees of Shishkit and Gilmat had given the administration the deadline of June 29, 2010 but the Force Commander Gilgit-Baltistan General Javed Bajwa asked for three more days for the widening of Ataabad Lake spillway.

It is to be noted that a protest was held on June 18 and 19 in Tehsil Gojal and Aliabad demanding the spillway to be widened. The day saw clashes between the police and the affectees, which forced them to widen the spillway.

Taking notice of the seriousness of the situation, the local government negotiated with the people and assured that the authorities would blow up the boulders amid the spillway to enhance the out flow up to 30 to 40 thousand cusecs

Boating now allowed in Attabad Hunza lake

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:18:32 +0000

Hunza(HT):HUNZA: Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Syed Mehdi Shah has permitted boating in Hunza Attaabad lake.

CM GB by keeping in view the posing difficulties of the inhabitants of Gojal and Hunza has permitted them for boating from both sides of the lake. He said boats would be used for traveling of passengers on both sides of the lake and as well as for trade activities.

CM has directed to the administration that they should take all possible steps for protection and safety of the property and lives of the people while he also urged on the people to cooperate with the administration to avoid any danger.

Pictory : Army Helicopters supplying Food items

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:36:23 +0000

A Army helicopter with Food items for Gojal at Aliabad Hunza

Local Volunteers start work on widening the Ataabad Lake spillway

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:29:27 +0000

People widening Attabad Spilway

Hunza (HT) : The IDPs in Hunza have started widening the Ataabad Lake spillway on their own manpower.
People of Upper Shishkit and Gilmat have reached Ataabad via boats after a decline in the outflow of water from the Ataabad Lake. There they have started widening the lake spillway on their own.

More than 200 volunteers from upper Hunza and central Hunza have reached the spillway point.

Earlier, the police tried to stop the protesters, resulting in a man being injured.

Helicopter service is feared to be discontinued today

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:24:49 +0000

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 on Monday. According to a private news channel quoting 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. It was notified that Gilgit-Hunza section of Karakoram Highway will remain open till 4pm on Monday and during this while, the transportation of relief goods will continue

Inflow of water in the lake exceeded from 5,000 cusecs

admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:36:51 +0000

By Ijlal Hussain(Hunzatimes)
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 Gulmit, Shishkat and Passu areas.Also, Gilgit-Hunza section has been opened for traffic from 7:00 am to 4: pm.