Rock Collapse at Tarbela Dam T-5 Project
SWABI: A rock mass collapsed at the Tarbela Dam 5th Extension Project (T-5) construction site on Monday, causing a surge of water to enter nearby work areas, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) said.
An emergency was declared after the collapse. Construction work was suspended and workers were directed to move to safer areas. No loss of life was reported in the incident.
Water Enters Power House and Tunnel
Wapda said water entered the under-construction power house area and a tunnel of the T-5 project after a weak rock mass collapsed during excavation work. This led to the evacuation of workers.
The incident happened during excavation of the 2nd Bench Connecting Tunnel. The collapse allowed water from the Intake Pit to enter the tunnel and power house area.
"All workers were immediately evacuated safely," the statement said.
Wapda added that water from the Intake Pit had been completely drained and no further water was entering the downstream work sites. Dewatering work at the under-construction power house had also started.
Officials Assessing Situation
Senior Wapda officers, the project engineer and the contractor were assessing the situation to address any challenges to the T-5 project.
No Damage to Main Tunnel, No Flooding Threat
Wapda dismissed reports about the collapse of the T-5 tunnel. The authority said the main tunnel, under-construction power house, tailrace culvert and switchyard had not been damaged. There were no injuries or loss of life among the workforce.
A senior district administration official said there is no threat of flooding or inundation in areas downstream of Tarbela at present.
Warning for Citizens Near Indus River
Swabi Deputy Commissioner Nasarullah Khan said additional water had been released from Tarbela Dam due to "unavoidable" reasons. This was expected to increase the flow and level of water in the Indus River.
"All citizens are requested to take precautionary measures and completely avoid bathing, swimming and boating in the Indus River to prevent any untoward incident," he said.
The deputy commissioner urged the public to ensure their own safety and that of their families and follow public safety notices.
"Citizens should not pay heed to rumours and should visit our official page for authentic information," Khan added.
Background on T-5 Project Delays and Costs
Earlier in July, a government-constituted inquiry committee held all three key stakeholders - the contractor, consultant and employer (Wapda) - responsible for the cofferdam collapse at the 1,530MW T-5 Project. The committee cited post-contract unauthorised design changes as one of the main reasons for the incident.
The collapse contributed to at least a two-year delay and more than 285 per cent cost escalation in the project. The cost has risen from Rs82 billion to Rs317bn.
The project involves $700 million in loans from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. It was initially scheduled for completion by the end of June 2028, instead of 2026, before Monday's incident.
Source: dawn