Waterpipe burst disrupts traffic in capital

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, Dec. 13: The traffic system as well as movements of the people was affected in a few city area of Kathmandu on Monday after a waterpipe of Melamchi burst in the Lainchaur area. 

The area was flooded after excessive water leaked from the pipeline of  the Melamchi Water Supply Project. 

The road was inundated when the pipe of the project placed in the main road in front of Lainchaur’s Banquet building burst. Even some parts of the road collapsed due to flooding. It had severely affected the vehicular movement and caused difficulty for pedestrians in the area. 

The Traffic Control Room informed that the vehicles were jammed for a long time in Tripureshwor, Old Bus Park area, Jamal, Keshar Mahal, and other areas. 

Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited had started distributing water in the city from Friday. However,  water leakage was seen in other areas including New Road. 

Meanwhile, when asked about the cause of the pipe burst, Melamchi Drinking Water Distribution Committee spokesperson Rajendra Pant informed that the committee was responsible to look after the water distribution only till Sundarijal, after that Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited was responsible for  distribution and management of water. 

However, no one from the KUKL was available to explain the reason as they did not receive the phone call.