PUNE, July 5: A newly built road in Talegaon Dabhade was damaged on Saturday after a powerful jet of water burst through its surface during a routine pipeline pressure test, exposing flaws in the execution of an underground water supply project.
According to officials, the incident occurred when an underground pipeline gave way during testing, sending water gushing through the middle of the freshly asphalted road. No injuries were reported.
A subsequent inspection found that two sections of the pipeline had not been properly connected by the contractor, causing the joint to fail under pressure. The defect came to light even before the project had been formally commissioned.
Videos of the incident, which quickly went viral on social media, showed a powerful stream of water shooting several feet into the air through the middle of the newly laid road, leaving onlookers stunned. The visuals sparked criticism from residents, with many questioning the quality of construction and oversight of civic infrastructure projects in the region.
Taking note of the incident, Talegaon Dabhade Municipal Council Chief Officer Girish Dapekar said the contractor would be responsible for repairing both the damaged pipeline and the affected road. He added that the cost of the repairs and road reconstruction would be recovered from the contractor.
The incident comes amid an active monsoon spell in Pune district, which has already witnessed several rain-related disruptions, including landslides near Varandha Ghat and traffic chaos across the city.
The water burst has renewed concerns over the quality of civic infrastructure projects and the need for stricter quality checks before public works are commissioned in Pune's rapidly expanding suburban areas.
