Kochi faced fresh disruption on Monday after a second water pipeline burst near Kaloor, just hours after repair work on an earlier rupture was completed. The latest incident deepened water shortages and sparked protests, as residents struggled with both flooding and a lack of drinking water.

The first pipeline burst near metro pillar 540 at Kaloor, disrupting supply to several areas. After the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) completed repairs and resumed pumping, another pipeline around 10 metres away burst on Monday night. Water gushed onto the road, flooding the stretch between Kaloor and Palarivattom near St. Martin’s Church and causing traffic jams.

Water supply was disrupted in Kaloor, Palarivattom, Edappally, Ponekkara, Kadavanthra, Cheranalloor and parts of Thammanam. While pumping was not stopped on Monday due to acute water scarcity, water continued to spill onto the road and had to be pumped out.

Anger on the streets

Residents, already facing shortages, blocked roads demanding action and suspension of metro piling works. Political representatives, including Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas, visited the site as protests continued.

What authorities say

District Collector G. Priyanka inspected the area and called a meeting of KWA, Kochi Metro Rail Limited, KSEB and people’s representatives. KWA said repairs would be completed by Tuesday evening, with full supply returning by Thursday in some areas. Metro officials said piling work would be suspended until repairs finish and water tankers would be deployed to affected localities.