Howrah water crisis worsens as new cracks appear and electric poles collapse amid panic

A major water crisis has gripped Howrah after a crucial 1,500mm supply pipeline from the Puddapukur water treatment plant was damaged when a waste hillock collapsed at the Belgachia dumping ground on Thursday. The disruption affected almost all 50 wards under the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC), cutting off supply to large parts of the city. By Friday evening, water supply was partially restored in central Howrah, but north Howrah remained without water. Multiple new cracks appeared in the affected area on Friday morning, and several electric poles were uprooted, raising concerns among residents.

Authorities relocated around 30 affected families to a nearby school and a club, where temporary arrangements for their stay have been made. Water tankers were sent from Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Uttarpara Municipality, but officials admitted the supply was insufficient. "We have received 18 water tankers from the KMC and 12 from the Uttarpara-Kotrung Municipality. But they were not enough," said Sujay Chakravarty, chairperson of the HMC board of administrators. A team of engineers from the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) has been working since Thursday to repair the pipeline and restore supply.

Attempts to fix the damage on Thursday night were unsuccessful, and alternative pipelines are now being connected to restore water to affected areas. "There are many hillocks of waste at the Belgachia dumping ground. At least one of the hillocks caved in and the water line cracked under the impact," Chakravarty said. Officials estimate that normal water supply across Howrah will take at least two to three more days to resume.