Chaos and panic gripped Assam's Guwahati on Thursday after a water pipeline exploded, triggering a gush of water that flooded several houses. The incident, which happened in Guwahati’s Kharguli area, left one dead and several injured.
Videos from the area showed water gushing out with full force, like a tsunami, and flooding the neighbourhood. The gushing water also damaged several houses and vehicles.
A report in an Assamese news site quoted a local saying that three people died after being hit by the force of the water or due to drowning.
The pipeline is maintained by Gammon JICA. Local reports claimed the incident affected 600 people. The injured have been admitted to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
"One woman identified as Sumitra Das Rabha was brought dead at GMCH. Eight other injured persons have been admitted at GMCH. Out of them, three are minors," Dr Abhiit Sarma, Superintendent of Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, told news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on Friday took suo motu cognisance of the water pipeline burst and directed the Kamrup Metro District Magistrate to conduct an inquiry, PTI reported.
Commission member Satnau Bharali said in a statement that the district magistrate must examine all the aspects associated with the incident and submit a report at the earliest.
Bharali said the name and address of the company that completed the pipeline job, the measures taken by the administration to support and provide relief to the affected people, damages caused to public property and whether any police case has been registered in this connection must also be included in the report.
The AHRC also asked the magistrate to mention the names and addresses of those who died, and the injured in the report. Names and addresses of the owners whose cars, houses and business establishments were damaged in the incident should also be included, the statement said.