Water supply hit on Pongala eve, sabotage suspected.

published on February 25, 2013

Thiruvananthapuram is in the grip of major crisis with the main supply line of Kerala Water Authority carrying water from the Aruvikkara reservoir to the city burst at four places this afternoon.
With only hours remaining for lakhs of women to converge in the city for Pongala festival, disruption in water supply is also suspected by many as a bid to sabotage the festival. Water supply to most parts of the city has been already stopped after PTP Nagar in the early hours of Wednesday.

The pipe burst took place at four places–aruvikkara, karakulam, vazhayila and enikkara simultaneously, raising suspicion of sabotage. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, briefing newsmen about the alternate arrangements made, also did not rule out the possibility of sabotage.

According to unconfirmed reports, someone shut the safety valve in the supply line, which led to pressure being build up in the pipe, leading to the incident.

The Chief Minister assured that the pipe burst will not affect the festival as 50 water tankers have been made ready to supply water. A control room has been opened and water will be supplied to the needy on the basis of requests made at the helpline number (9447976622).

Oommen Chandy said that repair work will be completed within the next 20 hours, implying that water supply will be restored to normalcy much after the festival is over. He has also set up a four member team headed by former chief secretary K Jayakumar to probe into the mishap.

Meanwhile BJP workers took out protest march at different places in the city alleging bid to sabotage Pongala festival.