At a time when several parts of the State capital are grappling with a severe water crisis, a major technical lapse by the municipal corporation led to the wastage of lakhs of litres of pure drinking water on Saturday morning. A primary feeder line of the Narmada water supply burst near the busy 10-Number Market area around 10:30 am, turning the main thoroughfare into a virtual river and causing significant hardship to local residents and commuters. The incident occurred during peak supply hours when the pressure in the Narmada network was at its maximum.

 

According to eyewitnesses, the force of the escaping water was so intense that it created a fountain rising nearly 20 feet into the air. This uncontrolled discharge continued for over an hour, inundating the area and slowing down the city’s pace. Upon receiving reports of the burst, a technical team from the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) rushed to the spot. Investigations revealed that the ‘spindle’ of a crucial valve had popped out under high pressure. Assistant Engineer Ankur Raizada explained,

 

“The team had reached the site following reports of a minor leakage. During the inspection and repair attempt, the valve spindle dislodged due to the immense water pressure, leading to the fountain-like eruption. However, the situation was brought under control within an hour.” The sudden flooding caused a massive traffic jam on the main road connecting 10-Number and 11-Number markets, leaving several vehicles stranded in knee-deep water. Furthermore, the gushing water entered the basements of nearby shops and residential houses, damaging goods and property. Local residents expressed anger over the delay in shutting off the main supply, pointing out the irony of such massive wastage during a period of water scarcity. “We received a complaint regarding leakage in the morning.

 

A BMC team was immediately dispatched for inspection. While we were attempting to rectify the fault, the spindle came out, causing the water to erupt. The team acted swiftly to plug the gap, and the supply line has now been restored to normal functioning,” said Assistant Engineer Ankur Raizada.