The Hindu : Front Page : Penstock pipe bursts near Panniyar: 3 killed

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Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007
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Penstock pipe bursts near Panniyar: 3 killed

Staff Reporter

KOTTAYAM: Three persons, all KSEB employees, were killed and scores of people displaced when one of the two penstock pipes carrying water from the Ponmudi reservoir to the power house at Panniyar burst. The incident occurred at 5.10 p.m. on Monday, district authorities said.

The deceased were identified as Shibu Abraham, Sunny of Panniyarkutty and Joseph of Thrissur.

Two houses were washed away and 15 houses were damaged in the flash flood.

Power supply and telephone connections have been disrupted and vehicular traffic on the Ponmudi-Rajakkad route has been hit. The pipe had burst at a spot about a kilometre from the power house.People in Vimala City near the Panniyar Power House (Idukky district) have been moved to safer places.

Senior KSEB officials have reached the spot and efforts are on to ascertain the reason for the mishap. The only way to control the water was to lock the valve on the penstock, authorities said. The penstock pipe had breached in 2005 also.

PTI adds: The bodies of the two employees were found inside the valve room of the Power House, while two others who had gone there for repair work are missing, police said here. About 45 persons from eleven families living on the banks of the stream leading to the dam were shifted to a camp set up at Vellathooval church.

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