Ranchi: The death of two labourers after a dilapidated overhead water tank collapsed behind Kotwali police station earlier this month has raised concerns over the condition of ageing and abandoned water tanks across the city.Residents and local representatives are now demanding an urgent safety audit of such structures, several of which are located in densely populated neighbourhoods. They fear the tanks, many of which have outlived their intended lifespan, could collapse and cause casualties or damage to property.The concern is particularly pronounced in Bahu Bazaar, Doranda, Dhurwa, Hindpiri and Hinoo, where residents claim several overhead tanks show visible signs of deterioration.Ward 41 councillor Nilam Chaudhary said two tanks in her ward had become a serious safety concern. “I have repeatedly raised the issue during RMC board meetings. Both tanks are located in the middle of residential societies and are completely dilapidated. If there is a downpour, they can collapse within seconds, just like the tank near Kotwali police station,” she said.Chaudhary added that despite repeated complaints, no department had taken responsibility for the structures. “Immediate action is needed before another tragedy occurs,” she said.Residents said fear has become part of their daily lives. Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Doranda’s Kusai Colony, said people avoided passing near one of the old tanks during storms. “Large chunks of concrete have fallen earlier. We fear that one day the entire structure may come down,” he said.In Hindpiri, residents said children continued to play near an abandoned tank despite visible cracks in its structure. “There are no warning signs or barricading around it,” said Shabnam Parveen.Mayor Roshni Khalkho, however, said the maintenance of the tanks did not fall under the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), as many belonged to other govt departments.“Drinking water and sanitation department officials are usually called during RMC board meetings but often fail to attend. The corporation has also written letters regarding such issues, but they were not heard,” she said.Khalkho said she would convene a meeting with the officials concerned after the festive season. Department officials were unavailable for comment.
