Pipeline Bursts at NTPC Ash Pond, Floods Akbar Nagar Colony in Ramagundam
“We have repeatedly warned about safety lapses at the ash pond, but no action was taken until now,” another resident said, demanding immediate intervention
Karimnagar: Residents of Akbar Nagar Colony were thrown into panic late Thursday when a pipeline carrying hot, ash-laden water from NTPC’s boiler system ruptured near the Kundanapalli ash pond, inundating streets and homes under the jurisdiction of Ramagundam Corporation in Anthargam Mandal.
Eyewitnesses reported that toxic slurry rushed into ground-floor dwellings, forcing families to evacuate in the middle of the night. “We scrambled out of our houses as the scalding water gushed in — it was terrifying,” said one resident.
Local residents criticised NTPC officials and elected representatives for their delayed response. “We have repeatedly warned about safety lapses at the ash pond, but no action was taken until now,” another resident said, demanding immediate intervention.
In a letter to Union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Peddapalli MP Gaddam Vamsi Krishna condemned the incident as a “public crisis” and called for a high-level probe into technical and administrative failures. He has also urged compensation and rehabilitation for affected families, mandatory safety upgrades at NTPC Ramagundam, and the creation of a permanent community-state safety monitoring committee.
NTPC public relations officer Rupali Ranjan, however, said the company’s emergency team “reached the site promptly” and coordinated evacuations, cleanup operations, and the distribution of food and essentials. “NTPC remains committed to the safety and well-being of the surrounding communities and will implement enhanced safety measures,” she added.
