GILGIT: The Shishper glacier started melting once again the other day, causing flooding in downstream areas in Hasanabad village of Hunza, displacing many people and damaging an under-construction power house.

The increased water level in Hasanabad nullah, damaged water channels and swept away a portion of Karakoram Highway.

The glacier, a few kilometres away from Hasanabad village, had also started melting in 2018.

The surge in glacier blocked water flow from a stream originating from nearby Muchuhur Glacier, which normally falls into Hunza River at Hasanabad, thus forming an artificial lake.

The Hunza deputy commissioner said water from the lake had started discharging, increasing water flow in Hasanabad nullah.

He said inmates of 14 houses in the downstream of Hasanabad nullah had been evacuated and shifted in tents.

He said 2,500 to 3,000 cusecs of water was discharged which caused flooding in Hasanabad nullah, as a result, a portion of KKH was eroded and traffic was suspended for several hours.

“Flood damaged two megawatt hydropower house, barren and cultivated lands, trees along the nullah, drinking and irrigation water supply lines and channels in different villages of central Hunza,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman, Commander FCNA Maj-Gen Ehsan Mehmood Khan, chief secretary Khuram Shahzad Agha and officials of GB Disaster Management Authority and Frontier Works Organisation visited the area and reviewed the situation.

The district administration briefed the officials about possible threats in case of outburst of the lake.

Mr Rehman, talking to mediapersons in Hunza, said the federal government had been requested to provide a permanent solution to the disruption caused by Shishper glacier melting.

He said emergency steps were being taken to mitigate the disaster.

He said the glacier outburst posed threat to CPEC route and Hasanabad Bridge on KKH which connects Pakistan and China.

The Pakistan Army, GBDMA, FWO, works department and the district administration are working in the area to protect lives and properties of local residents living in red zone area, Mr Rehman said.

He said an alternative bridge was being constructed in case of damage to the existing one.

He said the organisations concerned were working on realignment of the damaged portion of KKH.

Hafeezur Rehman expressed fear that in case of rising temperatures in coming days Shishper glacier melting could increase.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2020