No end to pipeline burst : Another civic failure sparks outrage in Guwahati

Staff reporter

Guwahati: A fresh pipeline burst near the U-turn at Chandmari flyover late Thursday night has worsened the city’s ongoing infrastructure crisis, triggering widespread disruptions and public outrage. The rupture, which occurred just steps away from the popular eatery Street Za, tore through the road surface with high-pressure force, flooding the area and leaving a key stretch impassable.

The incident, reported around 9:15 PM on May 1, is the latest in a string of similar failures across Guwahati, raising serious concerns about the city’s ageing and poorly maintained underground systems. Commuters were left stranded, businesses forced to shut, and water supply disrupted in multiple areas after the pipe burst caused knee-deep waterlogging and traffic paralysis.

Authorities quickly cordoned off the affected zone, closing off the main road and creating a ripple effect of congestion on alternative routes. Emergency repair teams were dispatched overnight, though officials from the Guwahati Jal Board (GJB) admitted they were still unclear about the exact extent of the damage—or even the ownership of the pipeline in question.

“This keeps happening. They patch it up, and it breaks again,” said a frustrated resident, echoing the sentiments of many Chandmari locals who have grown weary of recurring civic failures. Water supply was suspended from both the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) system and the Guwahati Jal Board network across large swathes of Chandmari on Friday, affecting hundreds of homes and businesses. Nearby localities—such as Zoo Road, Anil Nagar, and Geetanagar—also faced water outages, further aggravating the crisis.

Popular businesses in the vicinity, including Street Za, were forced to shut down temporarily due to water damage. Commuters faced long delays navigating diversions, with many choosing to abandon travel altogether as the situation worsened through the night.

Despite repeated questions from the media and the public, civic officials have provided no definitive answers about the root cause of the frequent bursts or steps being taken to prevent future incidents. The confusion and lack of accountability have sparked renewed calls from citizens and civil society groups for a comprehensive audit of the city’s pipeline infrastructure and urgent long-term investments.

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