A rock collapse at Pakistan’s Tarbela Dam on Monday caused a sudden surge of water into a tunnel and the under-construction powerhouse area, forcing authorities to evacuate workers and suspend construction activities at the site.
Image Credits: Dawn
The incident took place at the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project (T-5) in Haripur during excavation work on the second bench of the connecting tunnel. According to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), a weak section of rock gave way, allowing water from the intake pit to flow into the tunnel and nearby construction areas.
An emergency was declared following the incident, and workers were immediately moved to safer locations. Haripur Deputy Commissioner Waseem Ahmed confirmed that all workers had been evacuated safely. Although one Pakistani worker was reportedly swept into the water during the flooding, emergency teams managed to rescue him. No casualties were reported.
WAPDA said the water from the intake pit had been completely drained, while work to remove the remaining water from the under-construction powerhouse had begun. Senior officials, the project engineer and the contractor were also assessing the situation to determine the extent of the damage and what needed to be done next.
Was Tarbela Dam damaged?
As videos of water rushing through the construction site circulated on social media, reports also began emerging about a possible collapse of the T-5 tunnel and concerns about flooding downstream. However, WAPDA dismissed claims that the main tunnel had collapsed, clarifying that the main tunnel, powerhouse, tailrace culvert and switchyard had not sustained damage.
Authorities also said there was no immediate threat of flooding in downstream areas. However, Swabi Deputy Commissioner Nasarullah Khan warned residents about an expected increase in water flow in the Indus River following additional water releases from the dam. He urged people to avoid swimming, boating and other activities in the river until further notice.
Construction at the T-5 project has been suspended following the incident, with the Haripur administration ordering an inquiry into what caused the collapse. A high-level investigation is expected to examine whether structural weaknesses or technical issues contributed to the incident. Further decisions about restarting work will depend on the findings.
The latest incident has also brought renewed attention to the project’s already troubled construction history. The Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project is expected to add 1,530 megawatts (MW) to Pakistan’s electricity generation capacity through three units of 510MW each. Once completed, it will increase the dam’s total installed capacity from 4,888MW to 6,418MW.
However, the project has faced repeated delays and a significant increase in its estimated cost. Initially approved at around Rs82 billion, its cost has since risen to approximately Rs316-317 billion. A government inquiry into the collapse of the project’s cofferdam in August 2025 had also held WAPDA, the contractor and the consultant responsible, pointing to unauthorised design changes and inadequate supervision among the reasons behind the failure.
Originally expected to be completed in 2026, the project’s deadline has already been pushed back to 2028. With construction now suspended once again, the latest incident raises further questions about when the long-delayed hydropower project will finally be completed.
Sources: Tribune, Dawn, Arab News, Daily Pioneer
