Rock collapse at Tarbela Dam T5 project sends water into tunnel

Emergency evacuation of workers

The Water and Power Development Authority stated that a weak rock section fell during excavation of the second bench connecting tunnel. The failure permitted water from the intake pit to flow into the zone of the power house being built and Tunnel No 5. All Pakistani and foreign staff were immediately moved to safer locations away from the danger zone. Water flooded the tunnel while a rescue crew managed to pull out the single employee washed away by the rushing current.

Project details and funding sources

The T5 project aims to add 1,530MW through three units of 510MW each to the existing capacity. This expansion will raise Tarbela's total installed generation from 4,888MW to 6,418MW annually. The World Bank provides $390 million while the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank contributes $300 million toward the approved cost. Power Construction Corporation of China won the civil works contract for $354.6 million in May 2021.

Wapda dismissed circulating reports claiming the main tunnel or switchyard had suffered structural damage during the incident. Senior officers, project engineers and contractors are currently assessing the situation to address challenges facing the project timeline. An inquiry has opened to determine whether structural weakness or a technical fault caused the rock failure. Work will resume only after a high-level committee reviews its findings on safety measures.