Chennai road develops massive sinkhole due to aging sewage line

A massive sinkhole developed on Perambur Barracks Road in the Pulianthope area of Chennai on Tuesday afternoon. The cave-in, which reached depths of up to 20 feet, was caused by a burst in an aging 1,200-mm RCC gravity sewer main.

This marks the third such incident on this specific stretch of road in the last five years, with similar sinkholes reported in October 2021 and November 2022. Residents and activists have expressed concern that authorities are only providing temporary repairs to the damaged sections rather than overhauling the entire aging pipeline, which is estimated to be between 40 and 50 years old.

The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has barricaded the area and initiated rectification work. Officials stated that a complete revamp of the pipeline is proposed but cannot be undertaken for at least another 1.5 years due to ongoing metro rail construction in the area. The damage is expected to cause traffic disruptions for approximately three days.