Major cause of tank collapse in Bareilly was severe riverbank erosion, not any lapse in construction
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According to a report by the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural), the collapse of an under-construction overhead tank in Bairamnagar village of Shergarh development block, being built under the Jal Jeevan Mission, was caused not by any deficiency in construction quality but by excessive water flow and severe erosion by the Kichha River. The department’s detailed report states that at the time construction began, the tank site was located about 150 metres away from the river. The site was also not part of the flood zone. Construction was being carried out in accordance with approved drawings, designs and prescribed standards after conducting soil tests.
According to the report, following heavy rainfall last week and possibly the release of additional water from the Gaula Barrage, the river's flow increased suddenly. As a result, the river changed its course and, within just three to four days, rapidly eroded the bank and reached the edge of the tank premises. Jal Nigam arranged sandbags and protective pitching as a safety measure, but due to the high volume and depth of the water flow, it was not possible to immediately put in place a permanent erosion-control mechanism.
Severe erosion washed away the soil surrounding the tank's approximately three-metre-deep foundation, weakening its ground support and causing it to tilt to one side. As a result, the partially constructed tank became unstable and collapsed into the river on September 8. The report clearly states that there was no deficiency in the construction material or quality. It concludes that the primary cause of the incident was the unusual change in the river's course and shoreline after construction, along with severe erosion caused by natural conditions.
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