Major Pipeline Leak Near Teen Haath Naka in Thane Disrupts Water Supply

A major leak in the 3,000-mm diameter Mumbai-III water pipeline near Teen Haath Naka along the Eastern Express Highway in Thane has disrupted water supply to Mumbai and its eastern suburbs, civic officials said on Saturday, August 15.

Emergency repair operations ran into technical difficulties overnight, slowing down efforts to plug the breach on the critical transmission line. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) warned that water distribution would remain impacted across large parts of the network while teams work to isolate and fix the damaged section.

The leak was first detected on Friday along the highway stretch near Teen Haath Naka. Large volumes of water began gushing out from the pipeline, prompting the civic body to dispatch emergency maintenance crews to contain the wastage and assess the damage.

Civic officials explained that reaching the rupture has proven complicated because the Mumbai-III pipeline lies between three and four metres below ground level and is encased in a protective outer layer. Maintenance teams had to create a deep excavation using JCB earthmoving machinery to fully expose the pressurized pipe for inspection.

Repair operations commenced late Friday night. However, personnel from the BMC Water Department (Outside City Limits) encountered unexpected technical hurdles while attempting to seal the conduit. Workers and specialized staff remain stationed at the site, attempting to pinpoint the exact failure point, stem the flow, and execute structural repairs safely.

The BMC stated that the complex nature of the pipeline's depth and casing has made the intervention challenging, requiring additional operational time. The civic administration has urged residents across affected areas to monitor their water consumption and use existing reserves judiciously until normal pressure and regular supply are restored.