A temporary safety dam at the fifth extension project (T-5) of Pakistan’s Tarbela Dam, being built with Chinese assistance, was swept away suddenly, sending floodwater into the main tunnel under construction. The cofferdam had been put in place to hold back water during construction work.
Rescue teams moved in immediately and evacuated Chinese engineers and Pakistani workers from the site. No casualties were reported. Construction has been suspended indefinitely as a precautionary measure.
Local officials and staff have alleged that negligence on the part of the Chinese contractor was the primary cause. A high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to examine lapses in safety standards and determine why the safety dam failed. Once completed, the T-5 project is expected to add 1,410 megawatts to the national grid, making it a key part of Pakistan’s energy sector.
With the tunnel completely inundated, pumping out the water and assessing the damage is expected to take considerable time, and the project deadline is likely to be delayed significantly. The incident adds to a series of China-funded projects in Pakistan that have faced setbacks from security concerns, financial crisis and political tensions, and it has renewed questions about the safety and quality of China-Pakistan projects.