Pune: A major water pipeline burst in front of the newly constructed ST station in Wakdewadi, Shivajinagar, resulting in knee-high flooding on the road and bringing traffic to a standstill.

The incident occurred on Wednesday (September 18) afternoon when a 1000 mm diameter pipeline, which transports untreated water from Warje to the Holkar Water Purification Center in Khadki, ruptured. The burst caused millions of liters of water to flow onto the road, turning the busy street into a temporary river.

Due to the rapid accumulation of water, traffic congestion quickly escalated, with vehicles lining up as far as Sancheti Hospital. Many two-wheelers stalled as water entered their engines, leading to frustration among riders who were left stranded in the rising water.

Kedar Sathe, Deputy Engineer of the Pune Municipal Corporation’s Water Supply Department, confirmed the details of the situation: "The burst pipeline was transporting untreated water for purification from Warje to Khadki. The supply from Warje was shut off promptly, but it took two hours for the remaining water to drain from the pipeline, causing extensive flooding."

Residents of the area were also affected as water seeped into nearby housing societies. Advocate Swapnil Joshi, a local resident, expressed concerns over the large-scale water wastage and the inconvenience caused by the incident.

"The water even entered nearby buildings, and many two-wheelers stalled in the floodwater," he said.

Authorities are now investigating the cause of the pipeline burst. Meanwhile, repair efforts are underway to restore normalcy to the area.