A 40-year-old water reservoir bursts near the temple area, leaving families shocked and scrambling
Residents in the Thammanam area of Kochi were jolted awake around 2 a.m. when a large drinking-water tank burst in the early hours of Monday, flooding homes and streets in the dark.
The tank, located close to Kuthappady Temple, had a capacity of approximately 1.35 crore litres. Its failure released a torrent of water that swept away vehicles, damaged walls, and brought mud and debris into houses behind the reservoir.
Shocked residents described how the floodwaters rose quickly, carrying stones, slush and silt into living rooms and yards. Some motor-vehicles, including autorickshaws and two-wheelers, were partially submerged or pushed off their normal positions.
Local health-centre infrastructure was affected too. The Kochi Corporation Primary Family Health Centre in Thammanam reported portions of its stock of medicines were damaged after water reached the building; computers and major equipment, however, escaped damage.
Officials say the tank had two chambers and was over 40 years old. Early assessments suggest that age-related deterioration of the tank wall caused one chamber’s wall to collapse, allowing the water release.
Authorities are now conducting damage assessments for household losses and investigating how long the tank structure had been weakened. No casualties have been reported yet.
Key Details At A Glance
- Tank located in Thammanam, Kochi, near Kuthappady Temple.
- Burst happened around 2 a.m., when many residents were asleep.
- Approx. 1.35 crore-litre capacity reservoir—released large volume of water.
- Homes and vehicles damaged by flooding, mud and slush.
- Health centre reached by water; medicine stocks damaged.
- Two‐chamber tank, over 40 years old; structural failure suspected.
- No fatalities reported; damage assessment underway.
What This Means
The incident highlights risks associated with aging infrastructure. A water tank that had served the area for decades failed suddenly, underscoring the need for regular inspection and maintenance of critical public-utility structures.
For residents, the flooding poses immediate challenges—clean-up, repair and ensuring that water borne contamination or structural hazards (collapsed walls, electric risks) are addressed.
Municipal authorities will need to boost monitoring protocols and possibly audit other older tanks across urban zones to prevent similar incidents.
