Kochi water tank collapse: special protocol to inspect and fortify ageing structures may be devised following tank collapse

A special protocol to inspect ageing structures of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) at regular intervals and strengthen them may be formulated in the wake of the collapse of a water storage tank at Thammanam in the Kochi Corporation on Monday (November 10, 2025).

Minister for Water Resources Roshy Augustine said that while the KWA already has a mechanism to inspect ageing structures, an additional system might be introduced in view of the incident.

The partially collapsed tank, based on a folded plate design, was commissioned in 1985. The design employed a structural engineering technique using a series of flat, interconnected plates to create a stronger framework capable of withstanding heavy loads without the support of additional beams.

“There were probably no external signs of the imminent collapse, which appears to have been the result of a sudden catastrophe. Typically, before such incidents, leakages and damp patches are noticed on the structure, which were likely absent in this case. Ideally, ageing structures should be strengthened through retrofitting. All agencies, including the Public Works department and the KWA, must strictly adhere to Indian standard codes of construction,” said sources.

Although concrete structures such as the collapsed tank are expected to have a lifespan of up to 50 years, environmental factors and topography must be taken into account. For instance, concrete can corrode faster in coastal regions like Kochi, sources added.

Residents said they had raised concerns about the safety of the tank, located in the middle of a residential area, but their warnings were largely ignored by the authorities. Joseph Sabu, a resident of Kulathungal Bava Road, where the collapse caused havoc, recalled at least two instances of overflow from the tank in the past, although the damage had not been as severe.

Judith George, whose house is right next to the pump house and whose late husband had lived in the area since the 1950s, said the compound wall of her house had collapsed on more than one occasion due to overflow.