A three-decade-old water pipeline burst on Grand Northern Trunk Road at Puzhal around 2 am on Monday, causing a cave-in with a crater measuring 6 metres long, 3 metres wide and 2 metres deep. The 1,200 mm diameter pipeline carries water from the 300 MLD Puzhal water treatment plant to northern Chennai. Water supply to Tondiarpet and parts of Manali, Madhavaram and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar was suspended until 10 pm Wednesday. The pipeline, laid 35 years ago when the National Highway was two lanes, now faces increased load from the widened four-lane road with service lanes. A work order to replace the pipeline under the Ring Main System project will take two years to complete. This was the first cave-in from this pipeline in five years. A similar incident occurred three months earlier on the opposite side of the road from another 35-year-old pipeline. Metro Water deployed tanker lorries for emergency supply and residents could book tankers via the 'Dial for Water' facility on the agency website. Affected wards: Tondiarpet zone; Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar (Ward 71, 72); Madhavaram (Wards 25, 26, 28, 29, parts of 30, 27, 31); Manali zone Ward 17 (North Perumbakkam, Theeyambakkam, Kosapur, Chettimedu, Ariyalur, Thyagi Viswanath Das Nagar).

A 1,200mm diameter main pipeline from the 300 MLD Puzhal treatment plant burst in early Monday on GNT Road, Cycle Shop area of Puzhal (part of Kolkata National Highway). Cave-in rendered nearly half the road unusable, causing traffic standstill between Red Hills and Madhavaram. No injuries reported.

Metrowater pipeline replacement work will disrupt water supply in Zones 2, 3, 4 and 6 until 10pm September 9, affecting thousands of residents across north Chennai.

Zone 2 (Manali): Vadaperumbakkam, Theeyampakkam, Kosappur, Chettimedu. Zone 3 (Madhavaram): Ponniammanmedu, Vinayagapuram, Bank Colony, parts of Kathirvedu. Zone 4 (Tondiarpet): Entire area. Zone 6 (Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar): Areas near Perambur railway station and Kannikapuram.

Metrowater deployed additional water lorries to supplement existing fleet. Repair work coordinated with police and National Highways Authority of India. Residents can register for water delivery through 'Dial for Water' at cmwssb.tn.gov.in.

A burst in a major pipeline carrying drinking water from Puzhal water treatment plant occurred early Monday on GNT Road. Chennai Metrowater commenced repair work to replace the damaged 1,200 mm diameter section.

Affected areas without piped water supply until 10 p.m. September 9:

• Zone 2: Vadaperumbakkam, Kosapur, Chettimedu
• Zone 3: wards 25, 26, 28 to 31
• Zone 4: all areas covered by Patel Nagar distribution station
• Zone 6: wards 71 and 72

Work commenced to dig GNT Road stretch and replace damaged pipeline section. Additional water tankers deployed to affected areas.