Kochi: Water gushed out and inundated the areas surrounding Thammanam and Vyttila following the collapse of a water tank. The tank, which stored drinking water and was operated by the city’s water authority, collapsed around 2 a.m. on Monday. It had a storage capacity of 1.25 million litres. Footage from the scene shows devastation resembling that of a natural disaster.

Compound walls and roads collapsed as water entered residential properties. Vehicles parked on the streets were swept away and damaged. Electrical appliances, including refrigerators and washing machines, were ruined as water flooded homes. Many residents were asleep at the time of the incident, and mud and debris have entered several houses.

Water supply to Thrippunithura and other parts of the city is expected to be affected. By 4 a.m., authorities had managed to control the flow of water. It is not yet clear whether the collapse was caused by aging infrastructure or a construction defect.