800-mm heating networks pipe at the intersection of Farabi and Shifokorlar streets in Tashkent’s Almazar district broke during a test for mechanical strength, the Veolia Energy Tashkent said.
Before this, video footages from surveillance cameras appeared on social networks, which show a mass of brown water bursting from underground and hiting some passers-by, making them fall, a man and a woman holding their heads, and cars driving away.
The company's statement said that as part of preparations for the new heating season, tests are being conducted in the district for the mechanical strength of pipes under a pressure of 16 atmospheres.
Nearby stores sustained material damage— glass display cases with a total area of 8 square meters were broken. The damage will be compensated. The emergency scene was quickly localized without disconnecting consumers from hot water supply, Veolia Energy Tashkent added.
The company specified that the company would compensate for all damage caused — regardless of whether the damage was to individuals’ property, vehicles or other objects.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that three individuals were known to have sustained minor bodily injuries. They were provided assistance on the spot.
Some Internet channels reported an explosion of a gas pipeline. “This incident has nothing to do with the gas networks,” Khududgaztaminot said. “No accidents or technical failures in the gas supply system in this area were recorded, the gas networks were not damaged,” the company added.
