AB-i- GUM, Sowrah Passage

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Underground subterranean channels (SIDDIQUI, R A 2004) are said to drain the waters (note 1) of the Sanghar River from a sink (insurgence) to a spring (resurgence) at locations somewhere between BMP post Hingloon (note 1) in the west (upstream) and a certain Sowrah Pass (east, downstream) across the Mether Suliman / Suleiman Range. ETYMOLOGY: Aab-i-Gum -- the disappearing water (SIDDIQUI, R A 2004). Crossing the pass [note 2], we drove up stream for two kilometers along the bed of Sanghar and came across remnants of an old settlement that the locals believe was build by Arab traders before the Baloch migrated to these mountains [note 3]. Pieces of pottery lay scattered among stones of varying sizes which were used as building material. Beyond this site, the water of Sanghar stream disappears. Now this stream, which swells into a roaring river during monsoons, flows eastwards and joins Indus near the town of Taunsa [N30°42': E070°39']. Along its course, at a number of spots, the steam disappears from sight, travelling underground in subterranean channels only to reappear few kilometers downstream. Arab travellers knew this phenomenon as Aab-i-Gum -- the disappearing water. […] Our westward backbreaking journey along the dry bed of Sanghar ended at the BMP post Hingloon. Here, the water of Sanghar had reappeared again and the valley was narrow but green. The jeepable track ended here.eam disappears from sight, travelling underground in subterranean channels only to reappear few kilometers downstream. Arab travellers knew this phenomenon as Aab-i-Gum -- the disappearing water. […] Our westward backbreaking journey along the dry bed of Sanghar ended at the BMP post Hingloon. Here, the water of Sanghar had reappeared again and the valley was narrow but green. The jeepable track ended here.