Massive pipe burst turns road into river, damages homes
by Ekta ChaubeyA water supply mainline pipe burst, flooding the road with knee-deep water and causing extensive damage.
The incident occurred in the Kharguli area of Guwahati district, Assam, on January 2.
Visuals show water gushing out of the broken pipe with tremendous force, rising to a considerable height. The water rapidly spreads across the road, covering the surface and creating significant pooling. The powerful rush of water transforms the road into a temporary river, damaging several houses and making it nearly impossible for vehicles and pedestrians to pass.
According to reports, police personnel and fire tenders quickly arrived at the scene to control the situation. However, the sudden surge of water caused chaos for over 40 minutes before the flow was contained. The incident left over five homes, seven vehicles, and multiple business establishments severely damaged, forcing residents to navigate inundated streets and disrupting daily life.
Following the incident, the Guwahati Jal Board reportedly cut off the city’s water supply for three days. The pipe burst caused extensive damage to more than five homes, seven vehicles, and several business establishments, leaving residents struggling with flooded streets and disrupted daily routines.
Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah visited the site to assess the situation. He assured the public that experts were investigating the cause of the pipeline burst. Baruah stated, “There could be multiple reasons behind this incident. Our experts are working on it, and we will make the findings public soon. Let me assure you that the government is looking into it.”
Pallav Gopal Jha, Managing Director of the Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water and Sewage Board provided further clarification, saying, “We had installed surge tank vessels, as recommended by scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), to minimize water pressure on the pipelines and had planned a three-day water supply halt starting tomorrow. Unfortunately, this accident occurred earlier.”
Jha faced heated discussions with locals whose homes had sustained severe damage. Addressing their concerns, he said, “We need to assess the extent of the damage before deciding on compensation. I will discuss this matter with engineers and the District Commissioner.”