Treefalls at Rateychu damage pipelines, Gangtok faces water shortage till tomorrow

Life in Gangtok was hit on Wednesday after several treefalls at Rateychu damaged the main water pipelines that supply the city. According to officials, heavy trees fell at two to three spots around the 9th Mile area, breaking the pipes that carry water to Gangtok. The sudden damage has caused water supply to stop in many parts of the city, leaving residents worried about their daily needs.

Teams from the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported. Workers have been digging, cutting, and repairing the pipelines since morning. However, the damage is serious, and the officials have warned that it may take the whole day to fix the broken pipelines. People in Gangtok may have to wait until tomorrow before regular water supply is restored.

The PHED has appealed to the public to be careful in using whatever water they have stored at home. In a public notice, the department asked residents to use water only for essential purposes like drinking and cooking. They also requested people not to waste water on washing vehicles, cleaning, or other non-urgent work.