Rockfall floods Tarbela Dam fifth expansion powerhouse; all workers rescued

Part of a weak rock face collapsed during excavation at the construction site of the fifth expansion hydropower project (T5) at Tarbela Dam on Monday, allowing water to enter the tunnel and the powerhouse. Wapda has confirmed that all workers were evacuated safely.

A Wapda spokesperson said the rock fell during excavation of the second bench of the project’s connecting tunnel. Water then flowed from the intake pit into the tunnel and the powerhouse. All workers were immediately taken out of the area.

The spokesperson said water has been fully pumped out of the intake pit, and the process of draining the under-construction powerhouse has begun. No further water is entering the downstream work sites.

Senior Wapda officials, consultants and the contractor are reviewing the situation so that any difficulty facing the project can be addressed.

The spokesperson rejected reports that Tunnel 5 had collapsed. According to him, the project’s main tunnel, the tailrace culvert and the switchyard have not been damaged.