Adoni: The gradual sinking of the bund of a summer water storage tank is creating havoc and is forcing people living in the low lying areas of Kowthalam mandal in Kurnool district to move to safer areas. District authorities have sounded an alert about the danger of water stored in the tank overflowing and submerging colonies and crops in low lying areas.

Adoni RDO K. Obulesu and Kowthalam Tahsildar Eeranna rushed to the spot on Sunday after receiving information about sinking of the tank bund. The revenue officials sounded an alert and asked people in localities that face a submergence threat to evacuate to safer regions. Officials said the water in the tank can overflow at any time.

Officials said the tank was built in 2007 to meet the drinking water needs of villages connecting Kowthalam mandal. Due to the poor quality of works the bund has been gradually sinking into the ground and has reached the danger mark. “When the water evaporates and bund becomes dry voids are left in the structure making them react in different ways. Cracks can appear. This can be very dangerous. To avoid this a lot of consolidation is needed," Prof N.V. Ramana Rao, an expert in structural engineering from JNTU Hyderabad explained.