Raft service started in dammed Hunza River
PT Report
Gulmit, September 9: A huge raft,driven by a diesel engine, has been launched in the dammed Hunza River to transport goods and people over the 22 kilometer long lake formed as a result of January 4 slope failure at Attabad, Hunza.
The raft is capable of carrying 3 truck loads of goods in one go, according to sources.
“The raft reached Gulmit today”, a villager told Pamir Times.
“It creates hug waves while traveling in the river”, he further informed. He feared that the waves might pose risk for the smaller boats traveling in the lake.
“There are a couple of soldiers here who call themselves rescuers”, another villager complained. “But they are neither equipped nor acclimatized to the chilly cold glacial water of Hunza”, he further said.
An old man recounted his memories of a similar raft service started in the mid 70s after a massive flood at Shishkat had blocked the Hunza River passage and converted it into a lake.
“One day the raft was carrying a truck and other goods and broke down in middle of the river”, he said. “Several people were on board the raft and one of them could never be found but many were saved by the Chinese and Pakistani operators and workers”, he remembered. “I don’t know if the current rescuers will prove to be effective in a similar unfortunate situation”, he worryingly said.
The local people have, reacting cautiously to the development, demanded of the government to immediately start expansion and deepening of the spillway, as decided during a high level meeting held at the presidency in Islamabad.
“The raft will help transportation of goods but there is no alternative to restoration of the road links”, a member of the Gulmit Village Organization said.
It gives the impression that govt is not serious about water discharge from the Dam
Indeed itz good step towards minimising the misries of gojal. Once itz operative effeciently.
Its indeed a great concern for the people of this area that Govt. has no plans to widen or deepening the lake and reconstruction of road link. Things are worsening every passing day as the winter is approaching. Although Relief Goods from China will reduce the risk of food items shortage but the day to day activities specially traveling is at halt. GOD Bless our Home Land and give us the courage to come out of this hard time with dignity.
That’s an interesting development. I hope someone will make videos of the raft in action.
A solution for residents who are unhappy with the govt stopping subsidy of boat transportation, is that they could build or acquire sailboats and travel the lake by windpower only. Then they would not need gasoline. There must be enough wind in the valley to power sailboats. Of course one needs to learn to sail first!
I was wondering: what is the total volume of water now stored in the lake.
The latest satellite image from NASA shows that the size of the lake apparently is reducing.
Can someone shed some information/comments.
Thanks