STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: While the people of Guwahati have still not gotten over the shock of the devastating water pipeline burst in Kharguli on May 25, another incident of water pipeline burst was reported in the city today.
Water, along with dirt and pebbles, started gushing out from a water pipeline under Guwahati Jal Board from the Gauhati Commerce College point to Rajgarh link road today afternoon. The water rose to around 40 ft-50 ft and shops and houses in the vicinity were damaged. Many vehicles were also damaged. Several people were injured. Though no casualties have been reported, there was chaos among people.
Besides the Kharguli water pipeline burst on May 25 and today’s pipe burst, small incidents of water pipeline bursts had taken place recently in Maligaon and North Guwahati. Kamrup (metro) Deputy Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha visited the incident site today and told media persons, “Minor leaks in water pipes can be repaired but this was a major leak. However, today’s pipeline leak and the Kharguli water pipeline burst are not the same.”
State Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal also visited the site. “After the Kharguli incident, a probe has been initiated. We also asked the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IITG) to carry out a soil analysis of the water supply projects. Soon we will get the report. But such incidents of water pipeline bursts are not good,” he told media persons.
Singhal further said, “The engineers and contractors who worked on this (Rajgarh) water supply project are no longer here. But the department owes responsibility for this incident. Instructions will be given to take measures so that such incidents do not occur in the future.”
The minister also tweeted, “Rushed to the spot immediately after the incident to take stock of the situation at Rajgarh & Gauhati Commerce College link road, where a drinking water pipe exploded causing some damage nearby. A high-level inquiry is already in process, post the earlier incident in Kharguli. We will ensure that no such incident occurs in future. Such accidents are utterly unacceptable & I assure citizens that strict & prompt action will be taken in this regard.”
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