Hunza River
Encyclopedia
Hunza River is the principal river of Hunza
, in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It is formed by the confluence of the Kilik and Khunjerab
nalas (gorges) which are fed by glacier
s. It is joined by the Gilgit River
and the Naltar River before it flows into the Indus River
.
The river cuts through the Karakoram
range, flowing from north to south. The Karakoram Highway
crosses the Hunza River near Hunza
and Nagar
valleys.
Thousands are fleeing their homes amidst fears of flooding as a breach of the Attabad Lake in northern Pakistan looks imminent.
An estimated 13,935 people (1,747 families) from 39 villages have been displaced following an avalanche which blocked the Hunza River forming a 19km by 80-metres deep artificial lake in Attabad, Hunza, located 130 km north of Gilgit in the Northern Areas of Pakistan.
A large number of cattle and standing crops on hundreds of acres of land were also buried under tonnes of earth that blocked the flow of the once fast-flowing river and a 22 km stretch of the Karakorum Highway.
Threatening water levels owing to rapid melting of glaciers now fast approaching the Lake's mouth, and just a two to four feet gap from the spillway are sparking fears of a massive flood that will affect many more villages.
Already the villages of Ainabad, Shishkat and Gulmit in the upstream areas of the lake have been completely inundated and 1,000 people from these villages have been moved to camps in safer locations. At least 36 villages situated downstream on the River Hunza are still considered to be at risk.
A total of 18 relief camps have been set up in Gilgit and Hunza, with nine of the camps in Hunza Nagar and nine in Gilgit.
Meanwhile, it is being feared that the leakage or busting of the Lake's bank could affect all of the five districts of Hazara Division*. According to a news channel, the people living on the bank of the Indus River have been directed to vacate the area.
The displaced families are facing the daily challenge of obtaining clean drinking water, food and clothing as they seek refuge with relatives or in the tented camps perched amid the terraces of high snow capped mountains on one side and the Indus River on the other side.
Although World Vision is not currently operational in the area it has established a preparedness team to conduct an initial assessment in accessible locations (Gilgit Chilas, Besham/ Shangla, Mansehra) as soon as the waters recede. These locations have longer alternate access routes to the Karakoram Highway, which may be damaged by a sudden breach and subsequent flash flooding.
Once on the ground World Vision can determine accessibility to cut off areas in coordination with local disaster management authorities in these more easily accessible locations.
Pending the assessment, World Vision would support the evacuation, survival and return needs of 5,000 individuals with a focus on shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as the provision of non-food items including clothing and cooking equipment.
World Vision will compliment these with World Food Programme- supported food distributions where we possible, or will coordinate with food distributions in the same area. The short-term relief response will also involve psychosocial assistance, recreational activities for children and health checks.
It has a mean annual flow of almost 320 cubic meters per second (740mm). The drainage area of Hunza river is almost 13733 square kilometres.
Hunza (princely state)
Hunza was a princely state in the northernmost part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan until 1974. The state was also known as Kanjut. The state bordered the Gilgit Agency to the south, the former princely state of Nagar to the east, China, to the north and Afghanistan to the northwest. The state...
, in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It is formed by the confluence of the Kilik and Khunjerab
Khunjerab
Khunjerab may refer to:*Khunjerab Pass, the highest paved road crossing of an international border in the world, between China and Pakistan* Khunjerab Valley* Khunjerab River*Khunjerab National Park, a National Park in Pakistan...
nalas (gorges) which are fed by glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s. It is joined by the Gilgit River
Gilgit River
Gilgit River is a tributary of the Indus River, and flows past the town of Gilgit. It is located in the Northern Areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The Gilgit starts from Shandur lake. The Gilgit River is also referred to as the Ghizar River....
and the Naltar River before it flows into the Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
.
The river cuts through the Karakoram
Karakoram
The Karakoram, or Karakorum , is a large mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan, India and China, located in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan , Ladakh , and Xinjiang region,...
range, flowing from north to south. The Karakoram Highway
Karakoram Highway
The Karakoram Highway is the highest paved international road in the world, but at its peak at the China-Pakistan border it is only paved on the Chinese side. It connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, through the Khunjerab Pass, at an altitude of as confirmed by both...
crosses the Hunza River near Hunza
Hunza (princely state)
Hunza was a princely state in the northernmost part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan until 1974. The state was also known as Kanjut. The state bordered the Gilgit Agency to the south, the former princely state of Nagar to the east, China, to the north and Afghanistan to the northwest. The state...
and Nagar
Nagar, Pakistan
Nagar is a town near to the Gilgit Valley in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. The town is located in Hunza–Nagar District and was the capital of the former State of Nagar...
valleys.
Attabad Lake
Main Article: Attabad LakeAttabad Lake
Attabad Lake, Gojal, also known as Gojal Lake, is a lake in the Hunza Valley of northern Pakistan created in January 2010 by a landslide dam. The lake was formed due to a massive landslide at Attabad village in Gilgit-Baltistan, upstream of Karimabad that occurred on January 4, 2010. The...
Thousands are fleeing their homes amidst fears of flooding as a breach of the Attabad Lake in northern Pakistan looks imminent.
An estimated 13,935 people (1,747 families) from 39 villages have been displaced following an avalanche which blocked the Hunza River forming a 19km by 80-metres deep artificial lake in Attabad, Hunza, located 130 km north of Gilgit in the Northern Areas of Pakistan.
A large number of cattle and standing crops on hundreds of acres of land were also buried under tonnes of earth that blocked the flow of the once fast-flowing river and a 22 km stretch of the Karakorum Highway.
Threatening water levels owing to rapid melting of glaciers now fast approaching the Lake's mouth, and just a two to four feet gap from the spillway are sparking fears of a massive flood that will affect many more villages.
Already the villages of Ainabad, Shishkat and Gulmit in the upstream areas of the lake have been completely inundated and 1,000 people from these villages have been moved to camps in safer locations. At least 36 villages situated downstream on the River Hunza are still considered to be at risk.
A total of 18 relief camps have been set up in Gilgit and Hunza, with nine of the camps in Hunza Nagar and nine in Gilgit.
Meanwhile, it is being feared that the leakage or busting of the Lake's bank could affect all of the five districts of Hazara Division*. According to a news channel, the people living on the bank of the Indus River have been directed to vacate the area.
The displaced families are facing the daily challenge of obtaining clean drinking water, food and clothing as they seek refuge with relatives or in the tented camps perched amid the terraces of high snow capped mountains on one side and the Indus River on the other side.
Although World Vision is not currently operational in the area it has established a preparedness team to conduct an initial assessment in accessible locations (Gilgit Chilas, Besham/ Shangla, Mansehra) as soon as the waters recede. These locations have longer alternate access routes to the Karakoram Highway, which may be damaged by a sudden breach and subsequent flash flooding.
Once on the ground World Vision can determine accessibility to cut off areas in coordination with local disaster management authorities in these more easily accessible locations.
Pending the assessment, World Vision would support the evacuation, survival and return needs of 5,000 individuals with a focus on shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as the provision of non-food items including clothing and cooking equipment.
World Vision will compliment these with World Food Programme- supported food distributions where we possible, or will coordinate with food distributions in the same area. The short-term relief response will also involve psychosocial assistance, recreational activities for children and health checks.
It has a mean annual flow of almost 320 cubic meters per second (740mm). The drainage area of Hunza river is almost 13733 square kilometres.
See also
- Attabad LakeAttabad LakeAttabad Lake, Gojal, also known as Gojal Lake, is a lake in the Hunza Valley of northern Pakistan created in January 2010 by a landslide dam. The lake was formed due to a massive landslide at Attabad village in Gilgit-Baltistan, upstream of Karimabad that occurred on January 4, 2010. The...
- Hunza ValleyHunza ValleyThe Hunza Valley is a mountainous valley in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. The Hunza valley is situated to the north of the Hunza River, at an elevation of around . The territory of Hunza is about...
- Karakoram HighwayKarakoram HighwayThe Karakoram Highway is the highest paved international road in the world, but at its peak at the China-Pakistan border it is only paved on the Chinese side. It connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, through the Khunjerab Pass, at an altitude of as confirmed by both...
- Pictures of Hunza