Pakistan

Where there is a will, there’s always a way!

A woman and a man walking on the frozen Gojal Lake to reach Hussaini village. Boats have stopped operating in the lake due to freezing of the water. Image: Faiz Ali (Hidden Hunza)
A group of commuters walking over the frozen Gojal Lake to reach their destination. Image: Faiz Ali (Hidden Hunza)

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19 Comments

  1. this is really unbeliveable …………..r they crezy …..how they are walking on 400 ft ……………oh my god. its just really amazing

  2. It is very risky and dangerous ,people should careful about traveling on ice.there is an alternate way to reach to there destinations .Government should construct road from Hussaini to Gulmit.

  3. PLEASE ADVISE THE PEOPLE TO CHECK AND MARK PATHS (USING PAINT) ON THE ICE. ICE IN LAKES IS THICK AND THIN .. IT DOES NOT FOLLOW ANY GIVEN PATTERN. IT CAN CRACK AND BREAK LIKE GLASS. IT IS A WELL KNOWN HAZARD IN THE WEST WHERE PEOPLE USE THE ICE FOR SPORT AND RECREATION AND EVEN THOUGHT THEY HAVE TRAINED EMERGENCY SERVICES … LIVES ARE LOST EVERY YEAR.
    THE PEOPLE CAN USE ICE TO GO PLACES BUT MR. EDITOR … PLEASE SEND THIS MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST.

  4. Very dangerous. plz stop walking on ice surface and do not encourage others as well.. It is risky

  5. It is extremely dangerous to walk on the surface while nobody know what is the thickness of deck.

    I think people are taking a huge risk by doing so. I do not think there is any trained rescue professionals in Pakistan in case of any mishap.

    It is the duty of the state to provide passage for the stranded population at this hardest part of winter. I am sure the authorities are not prepared for this situation and nor do they have any plan.

    Imagine what will happen to the sick patients who would need emergency evacuation to the nearest medical facility. Death with be the only cure, God forbidden.

  6. If the snow stays off, the ice will thicken to the point that it can support trucks and even aircraft. Until over a foot thick, truck speeds should be restricted to 30 km/h and trucks should be well separated as the ice will sink below trucks.

    Currents under the ice can create thin spots, especially at the outlet and inlets.

    The ice does open an opportunity to supply communities above the dam and perhaps, even reopen the KKH until snow blocks the high passes.

    Ice highways are used in the Canadian North to supply remote communities.

    The chief danger will come in the Spring as once warm temperatures arrive, the ice will weaken to the point that even six feet will not support a man.

    DO NOT carry passengers, except perhaps on towed sledges.

    Truckers need to cut exits in their roofs.

  7. OMG
    This is very dangerous and they are taking a very big risk of their lives. People should stop them.

  8. Thanks George for your suggestions, you are right as this happens to be a routine matter in cold areas such as Canada, but here people have no idea and the district management is also in blank on this subject.

    We hope that extreme care and responsibility is shown by the authorities and volunteers to avoid any unpleasant event.

    May Allah be with us all.

  9. The people walking on ice have no other choice but to walk over the frozen lake.Gulmit is totally cut off from both sides.It is dangerous but they have no choice.My prayers for the brave Gojalies.

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