Water levels inside the spillway on the rise

HUNZA: Water levels within the spillway at Hunza are rising at one inch per hour in the upstream areas which is resulting in large chunks of land being submerged.

The narrow spillway constructed by Frontier Works Organization is draining the lake at very slow pace. Experts of FOCUS and NESPAK after studying the case said that the this situation would continue for at least a week.

"In this situation, it will take time to build up the pressure", said an official of FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance to APP.

While comparing the previous day’s inflow, which was around 250 Cusecs, he said that it was not large enough to have an impact on villages in the upstream areas.

As many as six houses were reportedly dismantled in the Goze locality of Gulmit village while others were directed to leave their houses.

Goze was disconnected from rest of Gulmit, being covered by water from three sides.

Similarly, four more houses were dismantled in Shishkat, taking the total number of IDP households to around 115.

The total number of households displaced in Gulmit is likely to increase up to 50 because of the increasingly worse scenario.

Meanwhile, the Karakoram Highway is likely to open for traffic for the people of Hunza Nagar stranded in Gilgit.

"The helicopter service initiated by Pakistan Army is over burdened because it is also being used for supplying of relief items", said an official.

People move to the helicopter field at Sonikot daily, but return disappointed due to unavailability of space.

Chief Minister Syed Mehi said, that he had directed Deputy Commissioner Hunza, Zafar Waqar Taj to remain in contact with the concerned authorities of helicopter services in order to remove hurdles of passengers waiting at helipad.