A major pipeline burst in Mhow on Thursday morning resulted in the leakage of lakhs of litres of water, submerging roads and causing waterlogging in adjacent areas for several hours. The breach occurred near the town hall branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) at around 8:45 am, sending water several feet into the air before it flowed towards Dreamland Square and the SBI branch.
Impact on Roads and Localities
Severe waterlogging was witnessed at Dreamland Square, the main street, and Simrol road. Water also entered almost every low-lying locality, the SBI branch, the Mhow Cantonment Board (MCB) office, the tennis court, and the cantonment garden. Within 15 minutes, the water level at Dreamland Square rose so high that two-wheeler riders could not drive through it, with many losing control of their vehicles and falling into the water. The water level inside the bank reached a point where the power connection had to be disconnected to prevent a short circuit.
Response and Repairs
MCB engineer Amit Vyas informed the media that as soon as the breach occurred, officials from the public health engineering (PHE) department, Indore Municipal Corporation, and the Narmada project were notified and arrived on the scene within about an hour. “Pumping of water was stopped at the station and repair work was started only after water flow stopped completely,” he said.
PHE official Jimmy Robert stated that the water supply to approximately 85 overhead water tanks would be affected due to this pipeline breach. The incident highlights the vulnerability of aging water infrastructure and the need for timely maintenance to prevent such disruptions.
