THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The water supply in Sasthamangalam, Vellayambalam and Kowdiar was disrupted as a primary pipeline burst at Pipinmoodu on Saturday.
This pipeline carries water to Sasthamangalam, Kowdiar, Hospital Road through Oolampara Junction from Peroorkada tank. The pipe exploded with a big noise and the road also suffered partial damages.
According to the Kerala Water Authority officials, the pipeline got damaged due to wear and tear. Ajay Kumar, Assistant Engineer, Kowdiar section, said that the water supply would be resumed by Sunday morning. “The leak was detected at 3.45 am on Saturday. The pipe has been worn out completely,” he said. Meanwhile, the authorities have arranged tanker lorries to supply drinking water to the public in the affected areas.
It is learnt that the pipe is over 25 years old. Though measures had been initiated to carry out work. it lagged leaving the public in the lurch.At the same time, as the KWA is yet to shell out money for the maintenance work carried out on the pipeline at Pottakuzhi, the contractors were not ready to take up this work. “ That is not a big issue and is common when it comes to such works. But we have arranged for another contractor who had already taken up the maintenance work. By Sunday morning,the people would get water,” said the official.
Owing to the incident, the traffic on the Sasthamangalam- Oolampara stretch was also deviated.