Shishper Glacier outburst causes high flood, badly damages bridge in Hunza's Hassanabad area

High flood in Shishper Glacier badly damages bridge on Karakorum Highway

Hunza: A massive Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) occurred in Hunza district's Hassanabad village Saturday after the lake formed over the Shisper Glacier started discharging 5,000 cusecs water owing to premature melting.

The heavy flow of water and high flood in Shishper Glacier has severely damaged RCC Bridge on Karakorum Highway at Hassanabad area in Hunza Valley.

The Gilgit-Baltistan tourist police confirmed the development, adding that traffic had been diverted to an alternate route on the Sas Valley Road.

#Shishper glacial lake outburst flood in #Hunza has damaged an important bridge on #KKH at #Hassanabad.

The light transport/traffic has been diverted to alternate route on SAS Valley Road but heavy transport vehicles are not allowed.

For further information dial 1422. pic.twitter.com/9eeqBUzRuH

— Tourist Police Gilgit-Baltistan (@GBPolice1422) May 7, 2022

Hunza Superintendent of Police (SP) Zahoor Ahmed said the glacier had started melting on Saturday due to heat and caused a flood that damaged the bridge and rendered it unusable for traffic.

He said tourists were facing difficulties and had been provided alternate routes through Ganish and Murtazabad. He added that tourist police were also appointed at various spots to prevent any inconvenience for tourists.

The SP said that families near the nullah were shifted to safer places and the entire administration, including the police and rescue services, were on alert due to the emergency situation.

Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said that the National Highway Authority (NHA) and Frontier Works Organisation assured him that the bridge would be repaired as a matter of urgency.

The chief secretary also directed GB Home Secretary Iqbal Hussain, Gilgit's commissioner, and deputy commissioners of the concerned districts to take immediate steps for the restoration of the Hassanabad bridge and resolve the inconvenience caused to the passengers.

According to information from the chief secretary's office, the supply of provisions and fuel to the tourists was also being ensured along with rehabilitation and rations for the affected families.

It added that two power plants of Hassanabad were also swept away by the flood.

A statement issued by the district police said that control rooms were set up in Hunza and Gilgit, which could be contacted on 05813-930721-2 and 05811-930033, respectively.