Water Enters Tarbela Dam T-5 Site After Rock Collapse

SWABI: Water surged into construction areas at the Tarbela Dam 5th Extension Project (T-5) on Monday after a weak rock mass collapsed during excavation work, prompting an emergency evacuation of workers, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) said.

Following the incident, construction activities were suspended and an emergency was declared. All workers were immediately evacuated to safer locations. Fortunately, no injuries or loss of life were reported.

According to Wapda, the incident occurred during excavation of the 2nd Bench Connecting Tunnel. The collapse allowed water from the Intake Pit to flow into the under-construction powerhouse and tunnel areas.

In an official statement, Wapda confirmed that the water accumulated in the Intake Pit had been completely drained. It also said that no further water was entering the downstream construction areas.

Meanwhile, dewatering operations at the under-construction powerhouse have begun to remove the accumulated water.

Senior Wapda officials, the project engineer and the contractor are jointly assessing the situation to determine the extent of the incident and address any potential challenges to the T-5 project.

Wapda Clarifies Reports About Tarbela Tunnel Collapse

Wapda has rejected reports claiming that the main tunnel of the Tarbela Dam T-5 project collapsed.

The authority clarified that the main tunnel, under-construction powerhouse, tailrace culvert and switchyard had not sustained any damage.

Furthermore, Wapda confirmed that all workers were safely evacuated and no casualties or injuries had occurred.

A senior district administration official also said there was currently no threat of flooding or inundation in areas downstream of Tarbela Dam.

Public Advised to Avoid Indus River

Meanwhile, Swabi Deputy Commissioner Nasarullah Khan said additional water had been released from Tarbela Dam due to unavoidable circumstances.

He warned that the release could increase the water flow and level of the Indus River. Consequently, he urged residents to take precautionary measures and avoid bathing, swimming and boating in the river.

The deputy commissioner also advised citizens to ensure their own safety and protect their families by following official public safety instructions.

He further urged the public not to believe rumours and to obtain accurate information through the district administration’s official channels.

Earlier Cofferdam Collapse Increased T-5 Project Cost

The latest incident comes after an earlier cofferdam collapse at the 1,530-megawatt Tarbela Dam T-5 project, which resulted in significant delays and increased construction costs.

In July, a government-appointed inquiry committee held three key stakeholders — the contractor, consultant and employer (Wapda) — responsible for the previous incident.

The inquiry identified unauthorised design changes made after the contract was awarded as one of the major reasons behind the cofferdam collapse.

The incident contributed to a delay of at least two years and a cost escalation of more than 285 per cent. As a result, the project’s estimated cost increased from Rs82 billion to Rs317 billion.The project also involves $700 million in loans from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Initially scheduled for completion in 2026, the project deadline was subsequently extended to June 2028. The latest rock collapse has raised further concerns about construction safety and the project’s timely completion.