Pipeline, bridge collapse on Damodar triggers water crisis
The Statesman | 26 July 2025
A severe drinking water crisis has gripped parts of Asansol and Raniganj after a structural bridge carrying a 40-year-old Public Health Engineering (PHE) pipeline collapsed in Kalajharia over the river Damodar two days ago.
Areas affected include Mohishila Colony in Asansol South, as well as Searsole and Benali in the Raniganj region, all falling under the Asansol South Assembly constituency. The PHE department has been supplying water to these localities via tankers as restoration work is underway.
Agnimitra Paul, MLA of Asansol South, has attributed the collapse to rampant illegal sand mining using heavy machinery near the Kalajharia drinking water pump storage project in Hirapur.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, when the iron bridge holding the PHE pipeline across the Damodar gave way. Officials warn that the disruption will affect water supply in parts of Asansol, Raniganj and Jamuria in the coming days.
Senior officials from the PHE department, the district administration, and Asansol Municipal Corporation have inspected the site. Restoration is reportedly being taken up on a war footing.
Local residents have criticised the area councillor for remaining silent on the issue.
Sources indicate the collapse was likely caused by unscientific sand extraction in the riverbed near the Kalajharia water project and increased water discharge from the Damodar Valley Corporation’s Maithon and Panchet dams in recent weeks.
The district magistrate of West Burdwan, S Ponnambalam, has directed Asansol Sadar sub-divisional magistrate Biswajeet Bhattacharya to oversee the situation. Acting on his orders, disaster management teams visited the area by rubber boats and have begun initial restoration efforts. One person, who was reportedly trapped during the collapse, was later rescued.
The collapsed pipeline was originally constructed in 1985 by the reputed firm Braithwaite Burn and Jessop Construction (BBJ).