4000 lives at risk in Zanaskar

Govt sent SOS to Delhi, GoI says will survey next week

Government of India (GoI) is risking the lives of around 4000 people of more than four villages of Zanaskar with its inaction after a landslide created a blockade of Phuktal tributary of River Indus.
Phuktal at Zanaskar in Kargil district suffered a blockade by a massive 200 feet high landslide dam which is equivalent to the height of a 20-storey building.
The landslide dam created on December 31, 2014, between Shaday Sumdo and Mar Shun in Zanskar has created about 8 km long artificial lake, whose size is increasing.
The dam, created at Marshun village, about 90 km from Padum, the sub-divisional headquarters of Zanskar, is made mostly of fine grained debris.
The landslide dam has been blocking 97 percent of the flow of around 50 cusecs of water at this period.
While the lake is frozen right now, the threat of its breach looms as soon as the melting season starts.
Talking to Rising Kashmir over phone, MLA Zanaskar, Syed Muhammad Baqir Rizvi said the frozen artificial lake has become a threat for at least four villages having a population of around 4000 people.
“The lives and properties of more than 4000 people of these villages are in danger because when the water melts, it can cause flashfloods and sweep entire localities,” he said.
Rizvi said he called upon Governor Narendra Nath Vohra at Rajbhavan in Jammu and brought the issue to his notice.
“However, so far the administration hasn’t done anything to drain out the water,” he said.
Rizvi was also critical of the Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council (KAHDC) saying that it could have come to the rescue of these villages but had so far chosen to stay away.
“I am the MLA of Zanaskar and am accountable to the people of my constituency but with the government yet to be formed, I cannot do anything,” he said. “Unfortunately, both the State administration as well as the KHDC chose inaction.”
Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Thupstan Chhewang had also sent an alert to Union Home Minister seeking his intervention.
Chhewang said the blockade poses a threat of an “imminent eco-disaster” in the area which could be disastrous for Zanskar Valley and its adjoining low lying areas.
The Chadar trek route through the area has been closed for tourists and trekkers in wake of the landslides.
Thousands of tourists including foreigners every year throng Ladakh for holidaying and trekking.
Zanskar is 13,154 feet above the sea level and a favourite spot for trekkers.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Rohit Kansal told Rising Kashmir that he and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir visited the area and after monitoring the situation submitted a detailed report to GoI’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
“A high level expert team from GoI will visit Zanaskar next week and conduct a survey about removing the blockade,” Kansal said.
The divisional commissioner said the administration had warned the people living in the danger zones and was preparing a rehabilitation plan for the inhabitants of these areas.
“A proper communication system has been set up and the administration has informed the Army as well as Police,” Kansal said.
In 2010, at least 234 people including some foreign tourists were killed in flash floods that hit Ladakh division.
Ladakh has a rugged terrain and landslides and avalanches are often triggered from its mountains during frequent rains and heavy snowfall that the region receives.
The landslide dam was created after a sudden reduction of flow in the river at the downstream Nimo Bazgo hydropower project of NHPC created landslide leading to flight over the river path.
Earlier, Executive Councilor (Tourism) of KAHDC, Skalzang Wangyal said, “We have never before heard of a landslide of this magnitude hitting the region, which completely blocked the fast-flowing tributary that passes through a narrow gorge.”
In September 2014, at least 282 people had also died in one of the worst floods to have hit Kashmir valley in a century.

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