CHURACHANDPUR, March 10: A loud explosion sound around noon today scared residents of Bijang Family Lane in Lamka. However, much to the relief of the residents as well as the commuters and traders of the area, the sound was found to be a water pipeline bursting.
A pipe of the PHED exploded at a joint with the explosion bringing the pipe to the ground level, hinting a shoddy work of the department as the pipes were laid just about six months back. Today’s explosion is the second such instance of this year in the Hmar Veng area along the Tiddim Road.
Fearing the worst on hearing the loud explosion, the shopkeepers of the area ran for cover, according to one.
At the same time, one of the shopkeepers said she was not scared at all, as she was there during the last explosion which was much louder compared to today’s.
However, she took cover after the water coming out of the pipe during the explosion reached her shop, she said.
It may be mentioned that the day before yesterday, another PHED laid pipe at the Light house Bridge had also broken, disrupting traffic and flooding the traffic along the busy Tiddim Road.
The explosion of pipelines twice in three days, don’t argue well for the PHED, complained many residents. They said they depend on the pipes to bring water Khuga Dam. The pipes which exploded are supplying to Bijang and Tuibuang areas of the town.
According to villagers of the two villages, they sometimes received water on alternate days and sometimes after two-three days, but they get water although not everyday.
Water is a luxury in Churachandpur, though it has a huge reservoir of water at the unused Khuga Dam. Locals decry that water from the Khuga Dam has not been provided to many areas, although it reaches some areas. They said localities like the Mission Veng, Zellang Veng have remained dry since last October and people have to buy water at the rate of 1000 litre for Rs 300.