Abstract
The mountainous region of northern Pakistan is seismically active as Indian plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian plate. Various geological phenomena are active due to the mountain building and landslides are one of the most destructive natural disasters in the Karakoram range. The northern part of Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, falling in this region is no exception to that. Attabad was a remote village situated on the right bank of Hunza River at a ground distance of almost 125 km from Gilgit city. The area falls into Darkut-Karakoram metamorphic complex composed of granites, granodiorite, and gneiss. A devastating landslide occurred on 4th January 2010, as mode of circular failure which blocked the Hunza River forming a lake behind. The debris material hit the opposite rock cliff, due to narrow gorge the landslide mass travelled downstream 1.5km with huge debris surges, hitting 8 houses in lower Attabad which came under rubble and 19 people died. Aga Khan Agency for Habitat previously FOCUS Pakistan developed an inventory of active landslides across the KKH in Hunza in 2000-2001, however this landslide was not identified. Later in 2002 after the Astore earthquake initial cracks developed at the top of the slope. The 8th October Kashmir earthquake destabilized and U-shaped demarcation appeared across the slope. Anthropogenic activities like irrigation of lands, seepage of water from rain and snow melt water further destabilized the land. Finally, an earthquake in November 2009 in Hindukush region triggered the landslide and brittle failure occurred on 4th January 2010.
Highlights
Attabad which is a remote village situated on the right bank of Hunza River at a ground distance of almost 2025km from Tehsil headquarter Aliabad in N_E direction
If we study the geological map of Pakistan six offshoots are running parallel to Main Karakoram Thrust (MKT) (Main Karakorum Thrust) from Chalt to Attabad as shown in fig.1 above
FOCUS Pakistan provided the technical assistance/services including the established of the camp and installment of the early warning system from Attabad to Gilgit
Summary
Attabad which is a remote village situated on the right bank of Hunza River (downstream direction) at a ground distance of almost 2025km from Tehsil headquarter Aliabad in N_E direction. The surface boulders were sunk into the slope and some were detached from their position The findings of this assessment was that there were 23 houses on the moving slope, a potential threat exists there, Human lives, settlements and cultivated lands were vulnerable. If this slope movement occurs, it will block the Hunza River causing the submergence of KKH and the nearby village (Ayeenabad), a flash flood will occur which will sweep the lands along the bank of river towards downstream. Attabad area falls into Darkut-Karakoram metamorphic complex according to the geological map of Pakistan.
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