SWABI: Sinohydro, the Chinese company executing Tarbela Dam’s fourth extension project here, has stopped construction on the new power house for an indefinite period after six persons, including three Chinese and a Pakistani engineer, were killed when scaffolding at an under-construction site came down on Sunday morning, Dawn learnt here on Monday.

Sources in the company said it was not clear when construction on the ill-fated site would resume.

When contacted, an official confirmed to Dawn on phone the stoppage of work on the power house for an indefinite period, saying it was not yet clear when the work would resume.

Officials said the company management would inform the workers whenever they decided to resume the work.

Meanwhile, workers said they were told by the company that they were on leave till July 12.

“Whether or not construction work restarts on July 12, we are bound to report to the China Camp,” said a worker, adding in our duty card it has been written that we should rest till July 12. However, an official said resumption of work won’t be delayed for too long.

However, work on the switchyard would continue, according to a worker.

Also in the day, two employees, including account officer of the Chinese company, were seriously injured in a road accident. They were returning to the China camp after handing over a body of one of the victims of the Sunday incident to relatives in Punjab. The accident occurred near Burhan interchange on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway The injured were immediately taken to a hospital in Texila by motorway police.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2016