Chennai: A drinking water pipeline on Tambaram-Maduravoyal Bypass Road burst, after a valve broke, on Wednesday morning and unleashed a flood-like situation in Moulivakkam, sparking panic and bringing back memories of the December 2015 deluge.
The torrent from the pipeline, bringing water from the Veeranam lake in Cuddalore district to the city, gushed uninterrupted since 7am and lasted more than three hours before Metrowater authorities intervened and snapped shut a supply valve.
By then a lot of damage had been done. Traffic over a large swathe of area was affected and hundreds of people, including office-goers, were stranded. A home located next to the pipeline was completely inundated, forcing the occupants out. One of them, Palani, said, "I thought the leak will be shut off quickly. By the time the authorities reached, my belongings were drenched."
About two dozen houses in surrounding neighbourhoods were soon flooded, sending panic-struck residents out on to the streets with their belongings. Many said Metrowater authorities were informed of the broken valve immediately but no help arrived until 10am.
On the busy Tambaram-Maduravoyal Road, commuters were stranded for nearly an hour. Nearby Paraniputhur Road was also flooded while water on the road below the bridge on the Tambaram-Maduravoyal Bypass was ankle deep.
Motorists going from Mangadu to Porur were routed via Kumananchavadi by the Mangadu police who set up barricades along the stretch. People going from Porur to Paraniputhur were diverted via Ayyappanthangal.
The pressure of the torrent eased around 11am after Metrowater authorities closed the water supply valve at Kelambakkam. In the afternoon, the authorities used sewer lorries to clear the stagnated water.
A Metrowater official said, "There was a problem with the airlock valve resulting in the leak. But we have brought the situation under control." Work on repairing the broken valve was taken up, he said.
Water from the Veeranam lake, brought to the city throught the pipeline, is treated at the Metrowater facility at Porur before it is distributed to city's homes.