Woman dies as pipeline bursts in Assam

Guwahati: An elderly woman died and several others were injured in Guwahati on Thursday when a pipeline burst and the water spurting from it swept them away.
The deceased woman, identified as Sumitra Rabha, was a resident of Kharghuli. She was rushed to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Witnesses said a concrete road, three houses and several cars were damaged in the incident. Locals blamed the disaster on the “apathy” of JICA contractors and the higher authorities. Sources in Guwahati Jal Board said the pipe was 4000-5000 mm in diameter. The authorities concerned are enquiring into the matter to find out how the pipe burst,” the source said.
The water supply has been temporarily disconnected.
The water supply project having a capacity of 191 million litres per day was partially commissioned last December. It was implemented by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority and was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It has an intake well and water treatment plant and two reservoirs at Ramsa Hill and Amiya Nagar. It has a distribution network of more than 100 km.