**Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has visited a lake near the northern town of Aliabad as fears grow that it could soon burst its banks.**At least 36 villages and thousands of people could be affected.
On Thursday the armed forces started an emergency helicopter service to evacuate stranded villagers.
The lake was formed in January when a landslide blocked the River Hunza. The waters have steadily risen since then, displacing thousands of people.
They have now taken refuge in makeshift camps.
Mr Gilani is one of numerous high ranking politicians and officials who have visited the area this week.
Experts say that the depth of the 18km (11.18 miles) long lake is increasing by 1.03m (3.4ft) daily, reaching a maximum depth of 110.03m.
They say that the lake only has to rise by another 3.65m before it begins to overflow.This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/bbcnewsworldfullfeed?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/bbcnewsworldfullfeed?d=dnMXMwOfBR0 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/bbcnewsworldfullfeed?i=RCKCo0E7qE8:Dx8IUO0N-lc:V_sGLiPBpWU
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/bbcnewsworldfullfeed/~4/RCKCo0E7qE8