The Thatipupdi pipeline that carries water to Visakhapatnam burst on Sunday morning after an earth moving machine hit it at Railway New Colony Junction. The machine that hit the pipeline that runs from Thatipudi to TSR Complex damaged the air-valve sending a jet of water high into the air.
The machine was being used for underground drainage work and when it hit the air valve of the 70-cm-diameter pipe accidentally. The 58-km pipeline carries about 9 mgd water from Tatipudi reservoir to TSR Complex.
The supply from Thatipudi was stopped as soon as the valve was damaged but the water in the pipeline jetted out. The water loss was estimated around 1 lakh litres. However, the pipeline was repaired in two to three hours. Municipal Commissioner M.V. Satyanarayana rushed to the spot and saw to it that the work was completed. He said the restoration work cost Rs. 36,000 and contractor who damaged it would be fined thrice the amount.
The Commissioner congratulated the officials and staff that completed the restoration fast. However, officials said water supply was not affected. Executive engineers Satyanarayana Raju, Venkati, deputy executive engineer R. Nagesh and assistant engineer Satyanarayana oversaw the restoration work.
