Pipeline Burst Near Bherughat Disrupts Water Supply
On Sunday morning, a high-pressure Narmada-Kshipra pipeline burst near Bherughat on the Indore-Khandwa road, leading to extensive flooding and property damage in surrounding areas. The rupture caused a powerful water jet to rise nearly 150 feet into the air, making contact with overhead high-tension electrical cables and triggering a power line fault.
According to Lalit Verma, Executive Engineer of the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA), the rupture was initiated by an electrical fault that abruptly stopped a motor pump. “The sudden shutdown created a back-pressure surge from three interconnected pumps along the pipeline section between Simrol and Bherughat, forcing water out through a manhole,” Verma explained to TOI. Sources indicate that approximately 5 cumec (cubic meters per second) of water was discharged for nearly an hour.
The affected pipeline supplies water to Simrol, Dewas, and the Pithampur Industrial Area. NVDA officials stated that repair work commenced immediately and that regular water supply was expected to resume later that night, without causing long-term structural disruptions to the connected networks.
Property Damage and Local Impact
Residents reported that the pipeline burst occurred around 7:30 am, sending water and large stones into approximately a dozen nearby houses. The force of the flow damaged tin roofs and flooded homes, destroying household goods including stored ration. A mud house belonging to Ramesh Kohli, a watchman at a nearby forest department nursery, was completely swept away, along with a tin shed of a roadside eatery. The flow subsided by 8:30 am after supply valves were closed.
Residents alleged that minor leaks had been visible along the pipeline route for several days. Despite raising complaints with the concerned department, no preventive maintenance was carried out, leading to the catastrophic failure.
Separate Incident in Sri Yantra Nagar
In a related incident in Indore, an unauthorized late-night drilling operation by a private firm in Sri Yantra Nagar (Sector C) damaged a Narmada water supply pipeline and an Avantika gas pipeline. When water supply commenced on Sunday morning, thousands of liters of treated water flooded the streets for over half an hour before valves were closed. Locals noted that the excavation compromised structural stability, causing nearby electricity poles to tilt.
Authorities are investigating both incidents and have assured that steps will be taken to prevent future occurrences. The NVDA has urged residents to report any pipeline irregularities promptly.
