A deep, 70-metre-long crack resembling a sinkhole has formed on a residential road in Chennai’s Perungudi, alarming residents and bringing traffic to a halt. Locals said they heard a loud, explosion-like sound just before the fissure appeared.
Initial suspicions point to ongoing construction work for a nearby high-rise apartment as the possible cause. The damaged stretch has been barricaded off by authorities, severely affecting movement and daily routines in the area.
Officials from the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), including the Regional Deputy Commissioner, visited the site for inspection. Experts from IIT Madras and Anna University have also been roped in to conduct a technical assessment and determine structural risks.
Residents are raising serious concerns about how construction approvals are being granted in the area. This alarming event comes on the heels of two other recent incidents in Perungudi — a reported sinkhole and an electrocution fatality — putting a spotlight on Chennai’s fragile urban infrastructure and safety protocols.
Civic bodies now face mounting pressure to re-evaluate construction permissions and enforce stricter monitoring. Until a full assessment is complete, the area remains under close watch.