Pipe burst in Thapathali wastes 500,000 liters of water, repairs underway
The rupture caused flooding in the area, with roads submerged in water.
KATHMANDU: A water pipe burst in Thapathali this morning, resulting in the loss of approximately 500,000 liters of water, according to Kathmandu Valley Drinking Water Limited (KUKL).
Earlier, on Feb 12, a similar incident occurred in Babar Mahal when a pipe carrying Melamchi water burst, causing a loss of 1 million liters.
The issue in Thapathali has been quickly addressed, with KUKL spokesperson, Prakash Kumar Rai, attributing the problem in Babar Mahal to a burst pipe caused by Nepal Electricity Authority’s activities.
While further investigation into the causes of the Thapathali burst is ongoing, Rai speculated that the pipe may have burst due to high water pressure.
Repairs have already begun on the main Melamchi pipeline that ruptured near Thapathali Chowk. The technical team from KUKL, led by engineer Prakash Baral, started work on the broken pipeline this morning, aiming to complete the repairs by the end of the day and resume water distribution.
The rupture caused significant flooding in the area, submerging roads, and water flowed into nearby homes and shops along the route from Thapathali Chowk to Norvic International Hospital.
Upon inspection, it was also found that a waste water pipe in the area was damaged.
KUKL clarified that the pipes were sourced through third-party inspections. Although human error might have contributed to the issue, corrective measures will be taken.
KUKL has since managed the situation, and normal water distribution is expected to resume in the area in a few days.
Rai also highlighted that the lack of coordination with other government agencies when digging roads has led to frequent pipe issues. Occasionally, high water pressure also contributes to such problems.
