Another GLOF!! This Time in Ghulkin
An unsettled part of Ghulkin village is flooded. Dozens of cattle have been killed, agricultural and non-agricultural land destroyed. According to reports received from various sources an unsettled part of Ghulkin village, called Chut Ghosth, has been flooded by huge amount of water emanating from a nearby glacier. The glacier serves as a natural boundary between Borith village and Ghulkin.
The additional DC of Hunza/Nagar district visited the GLOF site to see for himself the damage caused by flooding of Chut Ghost ward of Ghulkin village. He was accompanied by other officials of the local administration. He said that he would present a detailed report to the Chief Secretary and inform him about the loss of property.
Representatives of the local administration were also informed about the presence of an even larger glacial lake that can endanger the entire Ghulkin village, in case of similar outburst. Appeals have been made to the higher authorities to devise strategies to lessen the danger to human lives and property, if God forbids, such a situation emreges in the future.
A similar Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) had struck Passu valley, almost three months ago. Read about the Passu GLOF (Click on the link below)
http://pamirtimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/11/preparedness-beyond-prayers/
God knows how many of the another Golfs are waiting to hit the leads of our print and electronic? media and what if the unluky four footed victims are replaced by more unlukier two footed ones??? Its,s not invetable in the God blessed rich natural arena preventive measures need to be taken seriously on long and short terms learning from such natural lessons before it grows a lesson too heavy to swallow. We are well aware about the alertness of our stiff necked beurocracy so as usual a community based effort must be initiated before a tale of THE DAY THE DAM BROKE binds to our history.
i am very sad to know that the un expected stiuation of flood has distroye the same area(Chaat Ghuost) part of ghulkin village may mowla safe all of you and keep you in peace…
It is really a devastating situation that has been arisen by the flood water emanated from the nearby Borith Glacier.The resulting loss of the live stock and many agricultural and non-agricultural land is indeed very huge for the owners.
I would request the sufferers not to take things in earnest consideration as things like this happen and is all natural and not in the control of man.
A very true example of such kind of happenings is that of the earthquake in Kashmir and Balakot.Thanks God as no human live was endangered or lost unlike that usually happens in the floody areas of the country.
We can think of some options to minimize the risk but can not alltogether put it to an end.
Regards
Aslam Ghalib
Lahore,Pakistan
glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), also known as a jökulhlaup in Icelandic (A jökulhlaup is technically a sudden and often catastrophic flood that occurs during a volcanic eruption, but is also used to describe other sorts of glacial flooding), can occur when a lake contained by a glacier or a terminal moraine dam fails. This can happen due to erosion, a buildup of water pressure, an avalanche of rock or heavy snow, an earthquake or cryoseism, or if a large enough portion of a glacier breaks off and massively displaces the waters in a glacial lake at its base.
LOCATION:
http://spatialworld.multiply.com/photos/album/39/Geography#1
Glacial outbrust has become even more frequent over the last couple of months. Thanks God there was no human loss. The entire community in our area lives below hunge galciers, No matter these are the main sources for our livelihoods, but we need to think in a bit preventive way as well.,and organizations working on environment, like IUCN, or FOCUS etc. can play their role.
God Bless all of us.
Aziz at Mansehra
A positive sign that at least causes some of the unstreched muscles of the face to stretch. For a continous and optimum stretching the need of further GLOFs are needed coz before such damages, the concerned species hibernate. Anyhow, the hibernation period is over now, measures to be done can be expected.
LOVE
…regretfull n very sad moments 4 us..n d sense also y dont we go to the root cause…WHY IT HAPPENED N WHAT WILL B ITS IMPACT N FUTURE TO THAT ARENA..actually there z a huge amount f water underbeneath d glaciour..due to temperature rises n the pressure changes d water bursts out with great force…now a days a gobal problem z in its apex..GLOBAL WARMING…timperature f d earth rises now a days…
THE CHAT GOST N ITS NEIGHBOUR VILLAGES R TOTALLY UNSAFE n as well az n future…we must take sm measures to motivate d people to not settle over dr..
Dear friends,
It’s good to be a part of KNCC and I strongly believe that this network will be very useful in channelling information to the right people and through them to a wider audience. I would like to introduce UNDP-CPR’s (Crises Prevention and Recovery Unit) Regional project “Glacial Lake Outburst and Flooding (GLOF) Risk Reduction” initiative for the Himalayas and would welcome any related information, comments and suggestions.
The project was designed keeping in view the current issue of global climate change and its impact on the mountain glacial environment, giving rise to the incidence of Glacial Lake outburst and Flooding (GLOF) events. Climate change is exacerbating the natural hazards leading to significant impacts on the country’s development. The most severe impact of climate change in the region is its effect on the glaciers. Accelerated global warming the glaciers of the region are retreating with rapid accumulation of water in mountaintop lakes. Recent studies suggest the rate of glacial retreat in the Himalayas is as high as 30 to 60 metres per decade. As glaciers retreat, glacial lakes form behind moraine or ice ‘dams’, which can breach suddenly, leading to a discharge of huge volumes of water and debris. Such outbursts have the potential of releasing million cubic meters of water in a few hours causing catastrophic flooding up to hundreds of kilometers downstream with serious damage to life, property, forest, farms and infrastructure.
Known as Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), these floods can in a single devastating event result in major economic damages and social repercussions for a sizeable population living in the Hindukush – Himalayan belt covering the countries of India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan. Impacts include loss of lives, domestic property, cultivable land, mountain infrastructure downstream, forced migration and long-term secondary environmental degradation.
National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) conducted a detailed research in 2004 – 2005 and prepared a detailed inventory of the glaciers and glacial lakes in Pakistan. 52 potentially hazardous glacial lakes have been identified through the research, which pose a great threat to mountain communities
The project will be centered on community based and non-structural GLOF risk reduction measures. Its overall objective is to compliment engineered approaches with non-engineering approaches to GLOF risk reduction in the Himalayan Belt. As various agencies have been working on the theme of GLOFs in the region, a collaborative approach will be promoted.
This project will enhance the benefits of disaster risk reduction initiatives already in place (e.g. appropriate early warning systems, awareness measures, preparedness and land use planning) in Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan. A coordinated approach combining non-structural and community based methods will be used to prepare vulnerable communities against the threat of GLOFs and glacier melts in the targeted sub-region.
You are kindly requested to share:
1. Any Study/research material containing information about
• probable glacial lakes in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region and past events when such lakes burst;
• the socio-economic and physical impacts of those GLOFs; and
• risk mitigation and preparedness measures undertaken before and after the event especially community-based initiatives
2. Experiences from across the globe of adapting to mitigate the risks of GLOFs in particular and flash floods in general especially any community based activities undertaken for reducing such risks with specific focus on the successes and challenges.
My email address is given for contact.
Also note that their was another recent dam failure in Ghulkin glacier on 22-05-08 and then again on 25-05-08.
this all is due to the global warming nothing else