Team Herald
VASCO: In an unusual incident the main water supply pipeline to Vasco suddenly burst and flooded a house located in the vicinity. The incident forced the Vasco fire and emergency service to rescue all four members a family.
According to information, the incident reported at about 3.30 am, when the 400 mm diameter main feeder line supplying water to overhead reservoir at Vasco and Dabolim developed crack and burst near Pai Hospital in Vaddem.
Water from the pipeline started flowing out with heavy pressure and within no time a house owned by one Sandeep Chodankar which is located in neighbourhood got flooded up to over 3 feet.
“We received information at around 3.30 am that water pipeline got burst and water flooded a house which is enclosed by compound wall on all sides. Though I was not on duty still considering emergency, I along with my staff rushed to the site found that four members of a family including three gents and a lady were trapped inside the house. As the water level in the house was increasing and trapped family, the members could not come out due to heavy water force,” said station Fire officer Dilip Bicholkar.
“Therefore, we immediately broke the compound wall at two locations so that accumulated water could flow into the adjacent nullah. Later, all four people were rescued by us and the situation was brought under control after water flow was stopped by PWD officials at about 4.45 am,” Bicholkar added.
He also informed that households goods, electronic items including laptop, mobiles etc all worth Rs 1 lakh got destroyed in the incident.
Meanwhile, when contacted PWD Assistant Engineer (water supply) Vishwamber Bhende said, “We received information at about 4.30 am and instructions were issued to stop the supply from main pumping station at Verna. After visiting the site it was found that about five and half meters length of main pipeline which is inside the concrete retaining wall developed cracks and burst. We have started making arrangements for repairs however it would take some time to restore the supply as the damage to pipeline is extensive.”
