KATHMANDU: Early on Tuesday morning, a 500mm Melamchi drinking water pipe burst close to Thapathali Chowk in Kathmandu, seriously damaging the auxiliary road east of Thapathali Chowk and flooding it. Road closures and other disturbances were caused by the pipeline burst at the intersection of Thapathali Chowk and Norvic Hospital.

Mud and stones were strewn all over the road by the high-pressure water that poured out after the rupture, damaging the sidewalk and road. Videos of the incident, which show water rushing out along Bani Road like a flood, have been widely shared on social media. Because of the damage, the road is still blocked, making Norvic Hospital and the surrounding neighborhoods inaccessible.

In order to stop additional damage, officials from Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Limited have stated that they have cut off the water supply at the burst spot. Nevertheless, the rupture's reason is still unknown.  Authorities are evaluating the damage and starting the required repairs.

In less than a month, Melamchi has witnessed a second significant rupture in its main water pipeline. Before this occurrence, there was another breach causing serious havoc along the major road in Baber Mahal along the Maitighar-Baneshwor road section. This breach occurred when the equipment of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) penetrated the line while drilling to hold underground lines, causing the rupture.

The exact cause remains unknown, but investigators suspect that nearby drilling and construction projects may have contributed to the failure of the Thapathali pipe. The frequency with which these interruptions have been increasing raises doubts regarding the resilience of the newly built water pipelines and how ongoing infrastructure upgrades affect the city's essential services.

In any case, officials have also advised the people to refrain from being in the Thapathali area till repairs on the road are completed. As the repair works may take considerable time, commuters are advised to consider alternate routes during this time. Meanwhile, the concerned officials are investigating the cause of the incident to prevent other pipeline failures in the city.