May 28, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 22, 1429

HUNZA, May 27: A team of the Focus Humanitarian Assistance flew over the Ghulkin, Gulmit, Passu and Batura glaciers on Tuesday after two glacial lake bursts, flooding a vast area and disrupting life and communication in Chat Ghoosth in Gojal tehsil, some 145 kilometres northeast of Gilgit on May 21 and May 25.

The team, led by Nusrat Nasab, analysed the glacial lakes formation in Ghulkin glaciers to devise a future strategy to save losses to adjoining settlements.

The team will submit a report to the authorities proposing steps to cope with the situation. They have advised continuous monitoring of the glaciers’ movement in order to minimise losses in the event of any future disaster.

According to the Focus team, the water in a lake above Hussaini village has increased to an alarming level.

Despite the threat, neither the elected political leadership nor any senior government official has visited the area so far.

The flooding suspended traffic on the Karakoram Highway for six hours. Traffic was resumed in the area on Friday after Chinese engineers along with FWO personnel working on the KKH expansion project repaired the road.

But on Sunday, the water building up behind the blockage burst again, flooding new areas.

Experts said mudslides and flood had been caused by sudden changes in the behaviour of the Sheirpaigh glacier near Gulkhin and Hussaini villages due to global climate changes.Dozens of houses, cattle pens, potato and wheat crops and orchards have been affected. Road links between Gojal tehsil and Gilgit have been severed.