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The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), a government organization responsible for disasters in the country, has expected that the overflow of water from the Ataabad Lake, Hunza is likely between May 25-27.

Giving details of the Attaabad Hunza lake situation, an NDMA statement said due to safety considerations measurement of water levels have been stopped from Sunday onwards. The NDMA said that seepage of water was recorded at 197 Cusecs Free Board was 2.01 M while the expected time of over flow is likely between May 25 to 27.

Following upstreem villages have been inundated and population shifted to safer places:-

• Ainabad- 342
• Shishkat-532
• Gulmit- 50
• Total 924 (Individuals)

Regarding the Downstream Area, the NDMA said that basing on worst case scenario (dam breaches within one hour of overtopping of water), following number of population centres and communication infrastructure are likely to be affected:-

• Population Centers
• District Hunza-Nagar – 25 villages (including Attaabad & Sarat)
• District Gilgit-16 villages
• Bridges
• RCC-9
• Suspension-7 and
• Bailay-1

The statement further said that 22 Kms of KKH has been submerged in the lake.

Regarding Response by NDMA/Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), it added that the monitoring mechanism and early warning system has been established at the site / Hunza.

Army troops have been deployed in Hunza, Gilgit and Chillas to assist civil administration while seven helicopters have also been placed at Gilgit for relief operation.

About the provision of Food / Non Food Items (NFI), it said that the affected persons are being provided to GBDMA by ERC, other government departments, PRCS, FOCUS and various NGOs.

Army Engineer Corps has been made responsible for maintenance of bridges and the FWO for road maintenance.

Regarding the Coordination Mechanism, the statement said that to coordinate response three tier command and control system has been devised.

In that regard 3 Control Rooms were established at Hunza, Gilgit and NDMA (Islamabad).

About IDPs / Registration, the NDMA statement said that Overall responsibility of evacuation and early warning lies with GBDMA, (Army will facilitate the GBDMA).

The NDMA statement said that the evacuation of endangered population from District Hunza and Gilgit has been completed.

Like other precious properties and infrastructure, many ancient rock carvings on Karakoram Highway (KKH) are at the risk of being washed away because of potential threat of flood from the artificial Attaabad lake in Hunza valley in Gilgit-Baltistan.

These rock carvings are over 2,000-year old. Some of them consist of animal figures, circles and hunting scenes. While on some rocks figures of Buddha, Budhisattvas stupas, ancient inscriptions, Buddhist devotees, etc are inscribed.

A young archaeologist-cum-journalist and explorer, Muhammad Usman Mardanvi, has released the photographs of the carvings which show how these remained preserved despite centuries.

The possible flood by Attaabad lake may cause them damage or wash them away from surface of the earth, feared Usman, who has done his master s in history, archaeology and serves as tour adviser as well.

These carvings situated on main Karakoram Highway at Ganesh in Hunza, Shatial in Chilas, Khunjerab, Gilgit and other points have long history and great archaeological importance, said Usman, also the editor of Pashto language magazine, Pasun , while talking to The News by phone. The carvings are in 12 different calligraphies like Kharoshti, Sharda and Gupta, etc, some of them as old as belonging to 100 AD.

Different pilgrim caravans passing through the Silk Route had inscribed the carvings on huge stones as mark of their stay or journey from time to time. Since the Silk Route has been the ancient communication link between China, Central Asia and South Asia and different caravans would use this way for trade and other purposes like pilgrimage, it has historical importance.

Like the route, the rock carvings are also of great archaeological and historical importance. These carvings remind the old days when caravans would cover hundreds of miles by foot or by riding animals. And any kind of damage to these carvings may wash away a history of hundreds of years preserved on the rocks on the KKH.

Tags: Hunza Artificial Lake, Hunza in danger