MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

ISLAMABAD: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has ordered a departmental inquiry into the tunnel incident at the 1,530-megawatt Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project, while assuring that there is no threat to the integrity of the main Tarbela Dam or any of its critical structures.

Chairman Wapda Lt Gen Muhammad Saeed (Retd) visited the project from November 9-10, 2026, to review the situation following the incident in which a weak rock mass collapsed during excavation work, allowing water from the Intake Pit to enter the tunnel and under-construction powerhouse area.

According to Wapda, the incident occurred on November 9 during excavation of the second bench connecting tunnel. All workers were immediately evacuated safely, with no injury or loss of life reported.

The water accumulated in the Intake Pit has been completely drained, and no further water is entering downstream work sites. Dewatering operations at the under-construction powerhouse have also commenced.

During his visit, the Wapda Chairman inspected the intake structure, tunnel, powerhouse and other important sites of the project. Consultants, contractors and the Wapda project management briefed him on the prevailing situation and measures taken to address the incident.

Later, he presided over a meeting at the project office, where possible causes of the incident, immediate response measures and short-, medium- and long-term preventive strategies were discussed in detail.

The meeting finalised immediate response measures, implementation of which has already been initiated.

According to Wapda, consultants, contractors and its project teams were unanimous in their assessment that there was currently no threat to the integrity of the main Tarbela Dam or any of its critical structures.

The authority clarified that reports circulating about the collapse of the T-5 tunnel were incorrect, adding that there had been no damage to the main tunnel, under-construction powerhouse, tailrace culvert or switchyard.

Chairman Wapda directed the consultants to submit a comprehensive report covering all aspects of the incident at the earliest. He also instructed the consultants, contractor and Wapda project team to immediately execute remedial measures and finalise a contingency plan to minimise delays in the overall completion of the project.

He further ordered a departmental inquiry to investigate the incident holistically and establish its causes.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water Resources had sought an initial assessment report from Wapda, which was submitted on November 10, 2026.

Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Mueen Wattoo, who had been closely monitoring developments, was also personally briefed by the Wapda Chairman about the incident and the measures being undertaken to address the situation.

The 1,530-MW Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project is being constructed on Tunnel No. 5 of Tarbela Dam with financial assistance from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Meanwhile a technical fault in the hydropower system has disrupted electricity supply, affecting several areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and adjoining districts, while Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has initiated load management due to a temporary gap between electricity demand and supply.

According to information received, the technical fault has affected power supply from the Tarbela-Mangla hydropower system, resulting in suspension of electricity supply to several areas, including Jhelum, Chakwal, Gujar Khan, Rawat, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

WAPDA engineering teams are engaged in efforts to rectify the fault and restore electricity supply.

Meanwhile, IESCO spokesperson said that load management had been initiated in the IESCO region due to a temporary difference between electricity demand and available supply.

He said uniform-duration load management was being carried out on all 11kV feeders across the region.

The spokesperson clarified that load management would be discontinued as soon as the required electricity quota became available in accordance with demand.

IESCO expressed regret to consumers over the inconvenience caused by load management due to the temporary demand-supply gap.