ISLAMABAD: Experts fear that the landslide-affected people of Atta Abad, Hunza may suffer losses due to a potential outburst of an artificial lake formed as a result of a massive landslide in Hunza River.
These concerns were brought forward during a conference organised by Sungi Development Foundation and Gilgit-Baltistan Human Rights Advocacy Network (HRAN) at the National Press Club to understand and disseminate the correct picture of the natural disaster that hit and killed at least 13 persons in Atta Abad.
Referring to the artificial lake, an expert from the Geological Survey of Pakistan warned that 95 percent of such artificial lakes usually burst and there are high chances of Atta Abad Lake to finally break, which may cause damages and losses to a number of local residents.
National Disaster Management Authority’s Relief & Recovery Director Idrees Mehsud, informed participants that some 20,000 people got stranded in upper Hunza whereas 1,652 are currently displaced.
Representative of local communities demanded that the government should declare Atta Abad a calamity-hit area and take immediate and appropriate measures for saving their lives and properties from further devastation, which could come under threat by the outburst of the artificial lake.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\03\story_3-3-2010_pg7_23
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