A decades-old drinking water reservoir with a staggering capacity of 1.35 crore litres suddenly ruptured in the dead of night at 2 a.m. on Monday in Kochi’s Thammanam locality. The collapse unleashed a catastrophic flood that engulfed residential streets and caught dozens of families completely off guard while they slept. Situated near the Kuthappady Temple, the 40-year-old overhead tank, once a vital source of potable water for the area, gave way with a thunderous roar. It sent a powerful surge of water barreling into adjacent homes and transformed quiet neighborhoods into chaotic disaster zones within minutes.

The sheer force of the escaping water demolished compound walls, uprooted gates, and swept away parked vehicles including autorickshaws, motorcycles, and scooters like toys in a storm. Residents reported waking up to find their living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms inundated with knee-to-waist-deep muddy water carrying stones, debris, and thick slush. Several houses suffered structural damage with cracked walls and collapsed portions rendering them temporarily uninhabitable. Miraculously, no injuries or fatalities were reported despite the timing and intensity of the incident.

Eyewitness videos circulating online capture the grim aftermath. Distraught homeowners stand ankle-deep in brown water outside their flooded properties, salvaging soaked mattresses and appliances. One viral clip shows a woman tirelessly bailing out water bucket by bucket from her ground-floor home and tossing it onto the street. The nearby Kochi Corporation Primary Family Health Centre was also severely affected. Floodwaters invaded consultation rooms and storage areas, destroying valuable medicine stocks. Health officials confirmed that computers and major diagnostic equipment were fortunately elevated and spared from damage.

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The ruptured tank, a critical component of Thammanam’s water supply system, drew water from the Periyar River before distribution to local households. It consisted of two separate chambers, and preliminary investigations indicate that the dividing wall of one chamber completely gave way due to prolonged structural fatigue. Built over four decades ago, the reservoir had shown no visible signs of distress prior to the collapse. This raises urgent questions about maintenance protocols and infrastructure safety audits across Kerala’s aging civic assets.

Local authorities have mobilized rapid response teams to assess property losses, provide emergency relief, and initiate cleanup operations. The Kerala Water Authority has promised immediate repairs to the tank while assuring residents of alternative water supply arrangements. As affected families demand accountability and long-term solutions, the incident serves as a stark wake-up call about the hidden risks lurking in India’s rapidly deteriorating urban infrastructure.

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