PMO Orders Probe into Jugsalai Water Tank Collapse

Jamshedpur: The critical water crisis in Jugsalai, caused by the sudden roof collapse of a water tank on March 14, 2026, has reached the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). With nearly 2,000 households deprived of drinking water for over a month, the central government has intervened following allegations of administrative negligence and a “cover-up” by local officials.

Allegations of Official Inaction

The water tank, located near the ME School Road Primary School under the Jugsalai Municipal Council, rendered the local supply system useless after its roof caved in. Despite directives from former Deputy Commissioner (DC) Karn Satyarthi to take action against those responsible, the Executive Engineer of the Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWS) Department, East Singhbhum, has reportedly failed to initiate proceedings.

RTI activist Kritibas Mandal filed a formal complaint with the PMO and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in New Delhi, alleging that department officials are shielding the guilty parties rather than fixing the infrastructure.

PMO Directs High-Level Probe

Taking cognizance of the complaint, the PMO and the Ministry have entrusted Sunil Kumar, Executive Engineer (DWS Department, Jamshedpur), with the responsibility of conducting a high-level investigation and submitting a formal report.

The investigation will focus on the following key points raised by the activist:

• Construction & Cost: Verification of the construction date, estimated budget, and the agency responsible for the project.
• Lifespan vs. Durability: Determining the standard life expectancy of such a tank and why it collapsed so soon after construction.
• Maintenance Negligence: Investigating why repairs have not commenced even a month after the incident, leaving 2,000 families stranded.
• Accountability: Identifying the role of the Executive Engineer, Junior Engineer, and Assistant Engineer in the structural failure and the subsequent delay in restoration.

Demand for Immediate Repair

Activists and residents are demanding that the DWS Department prioritize the repair work on a “war footing” to provide relief to the affected residents. They have called for legal action against the engineers whose negligence led to this structural collapse and the ensuing public hardship.