25 houses damaged as water supply line bursts

Suranjith Perera Dehiwela Mount Lavinia group corr.

A water supply line which runs from Kalatuwawa to Dehiwela burst yesterday morning near the Sunethra Devi Vidyalaya, Pepiliyana causing extensive damage to around 25 houses.

Due to gushing water, walls of several houses collapsed while a number of electrical appliances were also damaged due to seepage.

This major pipeline which supplies water to Wellawatte, Bambalapitiya, Kirulapone and Pamankada is considered to be 33 inches in diameter and carries 400 cubic metres of water per hour. The burst had caused a crater near the location while the pipe had a crack running up to around five feet. Water Supply and Drainage Board officials had taken quick steps to brepair the damages.

An investigation has also been launched with the help of the Police to determine the cause.