BRT work brings water system to its knees

48-inch main pipeline damage disrupts water supply to several neighbourhoods

KARACHI:

In yet another reminder of the city's fragile infrastructure and deepening civic strain, a major water supply disruption hit several neighbourhoods on Saturday after a 48-inch diameter pipeline was damaged during construction work on the Red Line BRT along University Road, marking a recurring pattern of utility breakdowns amid the chronic water woes of the metropolis.

According to officials of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), a section of approximately 8 to 10 feet of the main water line was damaged during excavation work near Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block 1 in the Safoora area. The rupture caused a massive leak, prompting authorities to immediately shut down the supply and initiate emergency repair operations.

As a result, water supply was suspended in several parts of the city, including various blocks of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, PIB Colony, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Gulberg and Sharifabad, leaving residents struggling with acute inconvenience amid soaring temperatures.

KWSC officials said repair work was underway on an emergency basis and that restoration of the damaged line was expected to take between 24 to 48 hours.

Officials also noted that this was the fifth such incident in recent days in which a water pipeline had been damaged during ongoing Red Line construction activities along the corridor, raising concerns over coordination between civic utility services and infrastructure development projects.

The repeated disruptions have added to the city's worsening water crisis, already strained by persistent shortages and high summer demand. The situation has further increased dependence on water tankers in several areas, intensifying pressure on residents as the city continues to grapple with long-standing infrastructure challenges.

Authorities have not yet commented on accountability or measures to prevent further damage during ongoing construction work.