Authorities alert villagers as threat of glacial lake burst looms in Gilgit
gilgit — The threat of a glacial lake burst has prompted the regional disaster management authority to issue alert to nearby villages and residents.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) directed residents of Hassanabad village in Hunza to remain alert following a potential threat by glacier surge.
The residents of the village have been directed to vacate their houses and move to higher altitudes if they hear a siren from a nearby alert camp.
The Shisper glacier, located west of Hassanabad village, has surged during the last six months and a huge supra-glacial lake has been formed which locals fear can burst or overflow causing extensive damage.
The GBDMA has urged locals to call 05813-920100 for information and avoid travelling to the Shishper glacier. A high-level meeting to review the preparedness level of the local authority was also held at the Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA) headquarters.
The meeting, headed by FCNA Commander Major General Ehsan Mahmood Khan, decided that all necessary preparations be completed within two weeks.
Under the first scenario, it is expected that the lake will gradually release through crevices and the glacier may also melt gradually, resulting in normal to slightly above normal discharge of water.
This situation will not create any hazard to the local people.
Under scenarios 2 and 3, medium to heavy discharge of water is expected which depends on weather conditions. —