Attabad Lake, a mesmerizing piece of nature, resides in
Gojal Valley of Hunza in one of the directorial areas of Pakistan; Gilgit
Baltistan.it is 14 kilo meters upstream of Karimabad. In 2010, January; a
gigantic land sliding took place which results in Attabad disaster. Further,
this disaster was the base of Attabad Lake. The lake is 358 meters deep with
the length of about 21 kilo meters. Nearly, 330,000 acre feet water lies in
this gigantic lake.
One of the most attractive and enthralling lake, Attabad
Lake of Gilgit Baltistan, presents certain entertaining and amusing activities
i.e. fishing, boating, jet skiing and other such refreshing things.
It is one of the most picturesque and scenic lakes of the
world. The view from the hills is just magnificent. Mostly, the weather of lake
is cold. During winter, the mountains covering the lake are entirely covered
with snow and when the summer arrives, all snow began to melt presenting a
breath taking scene. In spring, water of the lake presents the greenish blue
color.
Due to this hude land sliding, approximately twenty five
people died. Moreover, for about five months, the water course of Hunza River
was obstructed. In June, 2010; the lake was extended on 13 miles, with of
deepness of nearly 330 feet. After this, it entirely immersed lower area of
Shishkat and moderately submerged Gulmit. Furthermore, due to this disaster,
Kara Koram Highway was also obstructed and led to the unavailability of food
and other resources.
The major areas which are affected by this disaster include
Ayeenabad (a village on north side of Hunza River) was entirely flooded; Shishkat was also completely immersed; Gulmit
( control centre of Gojal), approximately fourty percent of its areas were
flooded; Hussain ( a village of Gojal) was excessively submerged; Wakhi (ethnic
group area) was about 80% submerged; Burushaski ( present ethnicity) , about 18
percent of its land was flooded; Domaki was least damaged by about 2 percent
and some major areas of Ghulkin ( another village of the valley of Gojal) were
also damaged in this land sliding.
Approximately 25,000 people were influenced by this
miserable condition. Moreover, their lands, fields, business, markets, homes,
agricultural products, all are affected.
Because of least interest and lack of action by Government,
the sufferers of this incident decided to initiate a protest so that their
losses can be compensated to some extent.
The lake immersed the local roads due to which all traffic
flow had to be sent on flat boats. Later, in September, 2015 a new highway was
built for all transportation. This Kara Korum Highway is 15 miles extended
patch with five tunnels at the barrier of Attabad Lake. The extension of these
five tunnels in nearly 7 kilo meters. On September 14, 2015; the Prime Minister
of Pakistan inaugurated this highway. Approximately, $275 million was the total
cost on the construction of this new Kara Korum highway.
Later on, the previous Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani
and Nawaz Sharif, and the Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, visited the
Attabad Lake and declared that Rs 100 million were given from the Government of
Punjab for the help of the people who suffered, and RS 0.5 million were given
to the families of those individuals who died as a result of this disaster.
