Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Nov 19: Water supply across several parts of the city was disrupted on Monday and Tuesday after the main pipeline supplying drinking water was damaged during ongoing work near Padil–Kannur. The sudden halt in supply triggered severe water scarcity, leaving residents distressed.

Water was supplied to residential complexes through tankers. With the abrupt disruption, hotels, hospitals and other establishments faced acute shortages, and the water stored in tankers has already been exhausted.

Repair work is expected to be completed by Wednesday morning. However, it may take at least 12 hours for water to reach various parts of the city after repairs. Hence, supply to all areas on Wednesday also appears unlikely.

The main pipeline that supplies water from Thumbe Dam to the Padil tank lies 18 feet below ground. Beneath the main line that supplies water to the Bendore pump house is another line leading to Padil. This made it difficult to locate the exact point of damage. As a result, water supply from the Padil pump house to Padil, Maroli, Kankanady, Mangaladevi, Jeppu, Panir, Mulihitlu, Bolar, Car Street, Mannagudda, Pandeshwar, State Bank, Shaktinagar, Kannur, Bajal, Jeppinamogaru, Alape, Attavar, Ullasnagar, Chilimbi, Kodikal, Urwa Store, Ashoknagar, Kudupu, Vamanjoor, Bondel, Kavoor, Marakada and several other areas remained suspended on Tuesday.

Soil covering the pipeline was removed through the day on Tuesday using excavators and tippers. The damaged section under the soil has now been identified. Water accumulated in the pit is currently being cleared. The pipe must be cut and welded, a process that will take more time, according to officials from the Mangaluru City Corporation water supply division.

Meanwhile, repair work to stop leakage in the main line near Adyar–Kannur is also underway. Water supply is expected to resume by Wednesday afternoon, said MCC commissioner Ravichandra Nayak.