A woman found dead beneath Nasirabad bridge;

corpse around five days old kept for identification at civil hospital

GBE Monitor

HuNZA,July 12:A body of around 40 years old woman was found dead beneath Nasirabad (Hindee) bridge here at 10.00 AM on Wednesday. According to police sources, laborers working on Karakorum High Way (KKH) expansion project informed nearby police personnel deputed at bridge about the presence of a body of any woman along the shores.

HUNZA-NAGAR: Around five days older dead body found underneath Nasirabad bridge still a mystery. Image by: Wally Shams

Police took the body and rushed to the civil hospital for necessary medical examination. According to Station House Officer (SHO), Aliabad the corpse is around five days old as her cloths were in safe condition. " We are still not came to conclusion to term it a murder, yet possibility of such an attempt can not be denied, " he added. Public were informed who kept on visiting for identification throughout the day at civil hospital premises.
The deceased, around four and half feet high, wearing a colorful string round her neck seems Chinese like in her appearance.No one has identified her as their kith and kin so far. The Medical Officer, civil hospital Aliabad, Hunza, in the view of postpartum report,said that the deceased has died of drowning saying still it was unclear whether she attempted a suicide, fell into river or was forced to jump into." There is not a single sign of external torture or injury on her body to assume it murder case," said the police sources.
People residing near the shores of Hunza-Nagar river including those whose kith and kins still not recovered from in Attaabad catastrophe also continued visited hospital on across the day. Finally, the deceased was buried in Aliabad graveyard on Monday's late evening due to failure in identification and cooling facility to await kiths for a long time.

Source: www.voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Altit bridge expansion work goes slow

HUNZA, Altit, July 14: The expansion work over Altit bridge is slow than was expected by the public. According to the details, the work over expansion of the bridge joining Altit with Mominabad is being suffered of slow pace of work.

HUNZA, Altit: The expansion work of Altit-Mominabad bridge going on compratively slow. Image by: Shams

The bridge over only truckable road to this main town in Central Hunza was partially carpeted and rest of the dilapidated road is covered with stony cross sections and ditches. Public circles have demanded of the representatives to direct concerned department to complete the co-project in time without delay.

Courtesy: Readers Time

Strikers vows to continue strike till acceptance to their demands for revised compensation; half of Attaabad ready to slid down

HUNZA, Attaabad, July 12: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Attaabad and Sarat village, who after spending around four and half months finally compeled to risk their lives, gathered near blockade and on strike against governments's negligance in rehabilitation process. Around 310 IDPs including male, female and children have established protest camps.
Protestors blocked the temporary jeepable road to the Western facade of the blockade and commuters stranded virtually on both sides who later returened to from they came.
According to the Secretary information of both disaster hit places, Safdar Ali told VoH via telephone that affectees have planned to continue their strike until and unless government does not show its willingness to accept their demands of immediate rehibilition. " Mere a compensation of 600,000 rupee for every household is insuficient to buy and build and new shelter somewhere in the region," he maintained. Contineous rock fall and potential land failure engulfed region in fog for last four days thus created hurdles for boat service. Consequently, authorites suspended boat service to upstream.

300 IDPs entered into red Zone of Altit camp

GBE Monitoring Desk
SKARDU, Jul 13 (APP): As many as 300 IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) of Hunza entered into red zone of Altit camp through local wheel chair with rope to cross the river. “The areas which were declared most dangerous six months before will be now the residing areas of IDPs,” they warned the government. The government should take actions to get these IDPs, back from the red zone, otherwise any unhappy incident can be occurred.
The IDPs said in case of happening any unhappy incident government would be responsible.

Tempering With The Name of Attabad Lake?

Monitoring report

HUNZA, July 13:The question ,Would it be Attabad Lake or Gojal Lake? raised due to a recent attempt of tempering the name of Attabad Lake as Gojal Lake by one of the local media blog.When 20 people of Attabad (in majority Childern, women and elderly) lost their precious lives and the whole villages of Attabad and Sarat devastated due to the disastrous land sliding, it formed a lake on the Hunza River by blocking it. The water stretched upstream of the lake to Gulmit in Thesil Gojal-Hunza. Due to the increasing level of water which is measured more than 350 feet at depth and 32 KM of length has submerged villages of Ayeenabad, a major part of Shishkat and portions of Gulmit and Hussaini.
Due to the loss of 20 precious lives which has ruined lives of many families in the village of Attabad and Sarat in an irreparable way just in a few moments has shocked the whole world, particularly people in Hunza-Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan, community and humanity world over. Although people have lost their homes, lands, orchards and other belonging established and constructed over generations but the cost of 20 human lives are no comparison to what material cost has been. The world realized the grief and sorrow of the people of Attabad and families who have suffered heavily due to the affects of sudden demise of the 20 precious lives of loved and dear ones in Attabad. The lake which formed at the cost of the lives of 20 people was named Attabad, and in the foundation of the lake the lives of 5 people who were initially declared missing now for sure have become part of the foundation of the lake as yet they are not traceable, made people to name the lake in memory of 20 people who have lost their lives as ‘Attabad Lake’.
It was stunning to see recently in a local blog the lake was tried to be named as ‘Gojal Lake’. Many people think, why does this blog has attempted to temper with name of Attabad Lake? What is the purpose of this tempering act? While media world over is so much sensitive to the human lives. By tempering the name of the lake, it seems that the said blog has not considered the extent it would be hurting the feelings and emotions of the family members of those 20 people who died due to the Attabad Land Sliding including children, women, elderly and men.
Courtesy: Gilgit-Baltistan Times

Shandur festival: Polo on the peaks

Special Report

CHITRAL, GILGIT-BALTISTAN,Shandur, July 09: Every year, polo matches used to play on Shandur pass, world's highest polo ground that stretched at around 3700 meter high above sea level at the junction of Himalayas, Karakorum and Hindukush have been center of attention across the world.

SHANDuR: Players dance on the pitch to the beat of drums after the first match of the annual Shandur polo festival from a nearby hillside, about 200 km (124 miles) northwest of Chitral July 7, 2010. The polo festival, played at an estimated altitude of 3700 meters, has been running annually since 1936. Photo by: Routers

According to the historians, the festival that dates back to around mid ninteen thirtees when polo matches between different areas of the region were held from first week of July on annual basis. ccording to the statistics available, more than ten thousand polo amatuars attended the festival last year. Yet, due to claim of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province of having Shandur its integral part and opposition of Gilgit-Baktistan against the claim has soured the thrilling environment of the event. Chief Minister, Syed Mehdi Shah and other public representitives have slamed Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa's baseless claims and boycotted the festival as a protest over the silence of Islamabad over the issue. Consequently, the row between Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa has deepened creating trust deficiet and lack of cooperation between both the arms.

A woman found dead beneath Nasirabad bridge;

corpse around five days old kept for identification at civil hospital

Monitoring Report

HUNZA,July 07:A body of around 40 years old woman was found dead beneath Nasirabad (Hindee) bridge here at 10.00 AM on Wednesday. According to police sources, laborers working on Karakorum High Way (KKH) expansion project informed nearby police personnel deputed at bridge about the presence of a body of any woman along the shores.

HUNZA-NAGAR: Around five days older dead body found underneath Nasirabad bridge still a mystery. Image by: Wally, Shams

Police took the body and rushed to the civil hospital for necessary medical examination.According to Station House Officer (SHO), Aliabad the corpse is around five days old as her cloths were in safe condition. " We are still not came to conclusion to term it a murder, yet possibility of such an attempt can not be denied, " he added. Public were informed who kept on visiting for identification throughout the day at civil hospital premises.
The deceased, around four and half feet high, wearing a colorful string round her neck seems Chinese like in her appearance.No one has identified her as their kith and kin so far. The Medical Officer, civil hospital Aliabad, Hunza, in the view of postpartum report,said that the deceased has died of drowning saying still it was unclear whether she attempted a suicide, fell into river or was forced to jump into." There is not a single sign of external torture or injury on her body to assume it murder case," said the police sources.
People residing near the shores of Hunza-Nagar river including those whose kith and kins still not recovered from in Attaabad catastrophe also continued visited hospital on across the day. Finally, the deceased was buried in Aliabad graveyard on Monday's late evening due to failure in identification and cooling facility to await kiths for a long time.
Courtesy: voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Speaker asks more boats for Gojal

SKARDU, Jul 06 (APP): Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) Wazir Baig asked Hunza administration to increase the number of boats to carry people between Hunza and Gojal. Talking to APP here Tuesday Deputy Commissioner (DC) Zafar Waqar Taj said Wazir Baig issued these directives after hearing complaints of those affected by the Ataabad lake. The speaker visited the area to inspect relief efforts being extended to displaced persons.
About 20,000 people had been rendered homeless as a result of the formation of artificial lake. The speaker visited various wheat and grain depots in Aliabad and Altit to check the quality and quantity of stock at hand. The speaker was informed that food stock worth at least two months was available in warehouses for victims of Ataabad lake disaster.
Meanwhile, DC said water level in the lake was decreasing gradually. He said outflow of water was recorded at 15,427 cusecs while inflow stood at 14,900 cusecs. “The water level in the lake has decreased by three inches in 24 hours,” he added.

Aga Khan Health Services unit shifted to Al-Sabah medical complex, Family health care hospital,Jutial

GBE Report

GILGIT,July 08:Aga Khan Health Services unit(AKUH), a subsidary of Aga Khan Health Services working under the auspecies of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN),has shifted from River view building to Al-Sabah medical complex, Family health care hospital,Jutial Gilgit.


According to the details, keeping in view of possible outburst of Attaabad lake, the hospital management has shifted its Pediatrics and OPD to Al-Sabah Health care centre, Soni coart while arthropedic, general surgery, minor operations and gynological services have been shifted Family Health Care hospital, Zulfiqarabad,Jutial Gilgit where doctors of AKHU were present eight hours day.

Dasu Tourmic- gradual slop failure poses potential threat to settlement

GBE Report

SKARDU, Rundo, July 07: The process of gradual slop failure in Dasu after an interval of five months have created panic among the dwellers of the settlement. According to the details, the land link between Tourmic and Skardu suspended for more than a week hostage hundreds of acres of cultivated land and orchards in the region. The seismic movement had started a year back after which was continue with intervals, media sources said. Elders of Expected Internally Displaced Persons (EIDPs) of the area has demanded of regional government to relocate them as soon as possible to ensure safety before any catastrophe.

Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa should fight for royality of Kala Bagh dam; claims over Basha Dam illegitimate;

Govt should approve charter of demanded before innuaguration Says Najeeb ullah
GBE Report

GBE Report

CHILAS, July 06: Diamar Dam Action Committee (DDAC), has criticized Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa government for intermingling Diamer Basha Dam royalty issue ahead of its construction. Talking to media persons Haji Najeebullah, spokesman for Diamer Dam Action Committee he blamed concerned authorities for unnecessary delay with no reason. He said despite of detailed negotiations of DDAC with ministers committee and WAPDA unnecessary delay has been made in approval of the charter of demands of beneficiaries. He said that Khyber Pakhtoonkha government instead of claiming for royalty of Basha Dam should bother about the royalty from construction of Kalabagh dam, left in doll drums by federal government.

N.A.Scouts, N.A.Police still not entitled G.B Scouts and G.B. Police

GB Echo Report

GILGIT, June 06: Nothern Areas Scouts, assisting maintain law and order situation and defending the regional territory in case of foreign agression and Northern Areas Police, the main law enforcement agency could not be retitled with Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts and G.B. Police, respectively. All procedures bear the former name despite the claims of PPP led government for implementing all ingredents of the self rule governance order 2009.

It is a good example to portray the speed of the implementation of reform initiatives made by any regime partly due to lack of political will to deliver according to the peoples' expectations as well as accumen and administrative inefficiency.

Authorities bow before pressure; relief items shifted to Shishkat

Bureau Report

HUNZA, June 08: Following the agitation and media coverage resulted to get the authorities ready to shift perishable relief goods to Shishkat, Upper Hunza village that stranded for more than a week on pretext of bad climatic conditions.


Faqeer Khan, contacted VoH on Monday, criticized electronic media for focusing on College ground helipad and neglecting certain other points namely Deedargah helipad, being used for the transfer of relief goods via Army helicopters.


HUNZA, Aliabad: Local volunteers help loading relief items on helicopters . Images by Shams

A team of Dawn News, currently monitorring situation actively in the region was requested immediately to cover but failed to reach on the day. Consequently, a team of Geo News, finally managed to reach on Monday, took few shots and within few minutes athorities bowed before pressure and all items were shifted to their destination. One thing is apparent in such cases, most of the news channels were prototyped; if one manage to cover other would naturally find its way to that place. Source: voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Around twenty thousand IDPs spend another day in the eyes,water enters into few camps following heavy reain pour; standard meal provided in camps

GBE Report

HUNZA, GOJAL, NAGAR, GILGIT,JUGHLOT,CHILAS, June 05: According to the statistics provided by the authorities, around twenty thousand Internally Displaced Persons spent another day in the eyes in tents of temporary relief camps, arranged at Hunza, Gojal, Nagar, Gilgit,Jughlot and Chilas, due to heavy rain pour across the region.

GILGIT,Jutal: A temporary relief camp arranged for the IDPs of Jutal settlement

Internally Displaced persons who have been shifted to temporary relief camps at comparatively safer places were now on mercy of natural forces like rain.

DAROT, Jutal: Another IDPs camp for the population of Darot

Blocked water has entered into few tents of Gulmit village while the rain water has reportedly entered into some of the camps in down stream areas. Expected affectees of Salman Abad, shifted at Girls Inter College, Karimabad complained for substandard food being provided by Baitul Mall Pakitan, by unprofessional persons who were neglecting hygienic principles. Shahid Karim, an IDP said that pots in which food was being served were not washed properly. Besides, rain water was constantly pouring into cooking meal as the kitchen was arranged in an open tent premises. Affectees has demanded of government to ensure hygienic food to avoid food poisioning that may cause to make many ill.

Down stream Markets bared for last two days

GBE Report

H, Nagar, May 31: Down stream Markets remained bared following the apprehensions of release of huge quantity of water mounted in Hunza-Nagar district. Big banners prohibiting approach to areas like Lower Ganish and Garelt in Hunza and Skandarabad, Juttal and outskirts in Nagar has created a strange feelings among the masses.


Markets in the district remained almost without customers from dawn to night.


On the other hand, suspension of transportation from Hunza to Gilgit and expected fuel shortages have also disturbed the public transport running from Aliabad to different areas; public either used their own vehicles or relied on pedestrian walk to get their destinations.