Greeting Viewers: In this video, we will show you the history of "History of Attabad Lake Gilgit Baltistan | Attabad Hunza"

History of Attabad Lake:
Around 2002, in a village in the north of Pakistan called Attabad, a nearby large mountain started to show cracks. Upon noticing this, the Pakistani Geological Department and British experts alerted the locals, advising them to evacuate quickly and find safer dwellings. However, leaving behind their ancestral homes proved to be a challenging decision, and many residents chose to stay.

As the days passed, the cracks on the mountain continued to widen, and dust began to emanate from it. Finally, on January 4, 2010, at approximately 7 a.m., a terrifying event occurred. A massive landslide caused the mountain to shift completely from its position. Witnessing this, the ground collapsed, creating a barrier ranging from 300 to 400 feet in front of the Hunza River. This blockage halted the river's flow, resulting in water collecting in the valley.

At that time, Attabad consisted of three villages: Shishkat, Gulmat, and Ayeenabad, with around 500 houses. Water was accumulating rapidly, necessitating the evacuation of the residents. By May 26, 2010, approximately 350,000 acre-feet of water had accumulated, submerging all three villages entirely within seven months. Tragically, about 19 people lost their lives during this disaster. The lake that formed was subsequently named Attabad Lake, reaching depths of around 300 feet in some areas and about 100 feet in others.

The creation of Attabad Lake presented three significant challenges:

1. **Shelter and Assistance**: Immediate concern focused on providing shelter to those affected by the disaster. The Pakistani government relocated these individuals to Hanza and provided financial assistance of Rs. 6 lakh.

2. **Lake Spillover**: Concerns arose about potential flooding as the lake's water level rose and began to overflow from the spillway. However, it was concluded that the wall boundary, due to a mixture of soft soil and large stones from the landslide, would not break suddenly. Instead, as the spillway enlarged, water would flow out regularly.

3. **Transportation**: The disaster submerged a 21 km section of the Karakoram Highway, disrupting the main trade route between China and Pakistan. From 2010 to 2015, transportation occurred via large boats. Recognizing this as an unsustainable solution, a new road, including the famous Pakistan-China Friendship Tunnels, was constructed within a year and a half.

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