Motorists travelling on Karukku Main Road in Ambattur were shocked on Monday when a part of the road suddenly caved in. This road is an important stretch that connects the Chennai Bypass, Ambattur Industrial Estate, and Patravakkam. This is the second time in six months that the road has collapsed at the same spot.
Officials said the cave-in was about 8 feet deep. They believe the damage may have been caused by a leak in an underground sewage pumping pipeline that runs below the road.
A senior official from the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) said that repair work has already started. The pipeline carries sewage from Karuppampulam to Karukku, and then to the treatment plants in Korattur and Kodungaiyur.
The official explained that leakages over many days may have weakened the soil, causing the ground to collapse.
This is not the first time such an incident has happened here. On August 17, 2025, a biker narrowly escaped injury after falling into a crater that formed when the road gave way at the same location. A similar cave-in was also reported on the stretch in 2023.
Frequent collapses have raised safety concerns among motorists, and residents are urging authorities to take permanent measures to prevent further accidents.