KK Nagar road caves in for the third time 10 days

TNN | Updated: Dec 1, 2017, 00:21 IST

Chennai: A busy stretch in K K Nagar used mostly by school students has caved in for a third time in the last 10 days due to a leaking Metrowater sewer line. The situation has induced worry in locals' minds who fear the road strength has been compromised, especially as another spell of rain is expected to hit the city.

A portion of the road in Alagirisamy Salai in K K Nagar caved in late on Wednesday night with Metrowater officials, at the time of writing, yet to ascertain the cause behind the incident. The cave in happened barely inches away from the last crater which developed on the stretch last week.

"The (Metrowater) workers had been repairing a damaged sewer pipeline for the last 10 days," said a shopkeeper in the vicinity, who didn't want to be named. Metrowater had replaced a pipe crossing over at the junction of Lakshmanaswamy Salai and Alagirisamy Salai. The damaged pipeline, placed on a footpath nearby, appeared rusted and broken.

A third cave in was reported around a week earlier near the Padma Sheshadri Bala Bhavan school premises. "The caved in portion has been covered but it has become a hassle to drop children because of the large barricade placed in the middle," said a parent.

Corporation officials told TOI that the Metrowater's leaking sewer lines were causing problems not only on Alagirisamy Salai but also on Anna Main Road nearby. "There is no problem with our roads. Opposite the Nesapakkam sewage treatment plant, multiple road cave-ins have happened in last two months," the corporation official said.