Web Desk: Construction work at the Tarbela Dam’s Fifth Extension Hydropower Project (T-5) has been suspended indefinitely following an incident that allowed water to enter a connecting tunnel and the powerhouse construction area on Monday, according to local authorities.
Haripur Deputy Commissioner Waseem Ahmed said a protective bund had given way, flooding Tunnel Five and prompting the evacuation of Pakistani and foreign workers.
However, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) offered a different explanation, attributing the incident to the collapse of weak rock during tunnel excavation.
In a statement issued on November 9, WAPDA said a weak rock mass collapsed during excavation of the second bench connecting tunnel, allowing water from the intake pit to enter the tunnel and powerhouse area.
The authority rejected reports that the T-5 main tunnel had collapsed, saying the main tunnel, powerhouse under construction, tailrace culvert and switchyard remained undamaged.
WAPDA also confirmed that all workers were safely evacuated and that no injuries or fatalities occurred.
Meanwhile, WAPDA said workers had completely drained the intake pit, stopping further water from entering downstream construction sites.
Dewatering operations have also begun at the powerhouse construction area.
Senior WAPDA officials, engineers and contractors are assessing the situation to identify potential risks and determine the measures required to protect the project.
Separately, Deputy Commissioner Ahmed said a high-level inquiry would examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including possible structural weaknesses or technical faults.
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