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Chapter 6 Lifelines

Lifelines are those services and facilities which are crucial to health and safety of
civic communities and smooth functioning of urban areas. Lifelines are critical
for the emergency response, rescue and relief operations following natural disas
ters such as an earthquake. It is imperative that these services should remain
functional during and after an earthquake. Such facilities include drinking water
supply, electric power, transportation and telecommunication. In this chapter,
the seismic performance of many of these facilities in and around the Jabalpur
city is described.

DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

The drinking water supply was affected in many parts of the Jabalpur city. In
most part of the city the drinking water is provided by local groundwater basins
pumped up by tube-wells. The water is distributed by a system of overhead
water tanks and underground pipelines. Underground pipelines, especially at
joints, broke at as many as twenty places. There were complains of the tap water
being muddy which was probably due to the contamination from leaking and
open joints in the pipework. Steel pipes, some already weakened by corrosion,
broke during the ground shaking Most of breaks were repaired in two to five
days.

The eight wards of the city area were seriously affected by the disruption of water
supply. Emergency supply of water was provided by tanker trucks in Tripuri,
Suji Mohalla and Temar-Bhita areas. On Lalpur road, the Medical College and
Hospital lost the water supply and the army was called in for assistance.

Most of overhead reservoir structures in the city survived the earthquake without

any apparent damage. One noticeable exception was Gulaotal overhead water
tank in Garha area which is described in the following section.

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