Chennai
oi-Swastika Sruti
There was a massive collapse of the road in Tidel Park in the Thiruvanmiyur locality in Chennai on Thursday morning, when a vehicle fell into a huge hole on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR).
A road section on Chennai’s OMR near Tidel Park collapsed on Thursday morning, forming a sinkhole that engulfed a car; its two occupants survived, and repair work is underway following investigations into potential sewer line failure.
This occurred in one of the busiest IT localities in Chennai and has led to a disruption in traffic in that area. There were two people in the vehicle when this accident happened. It was informed by police sources that both of them have survived the incident.
Car Falls Into Sinkhole As OMR Road Suddenly Gives Way
The white car was travelling on OMR near the Thiruvanmiyur MRTS and Tidel Park when a portion of the road close to the median suddenly collapsed.
One of the car’s front tyres became trapped as the road surface gave way. The vehicle then lost balance and plunged into the sinkhole, eventually landing upside down.
The crater was reported to be around 10 feet deep. Videos from the location showed an MTC bus trying to pass through the narrow space between the stranded car and a Metro barricade shortly before the car fell into the hole.
Car topples in OMR Chennai after road caves in https://t.co/TWx4Zy017f
— Omjasvin M D (@omjasvinMD) October 8, 2026
Fortunately, the two occupants escaped without serious injury.
Road Collapse Causes Traffic Disruption
The cave-in affected traffic movement on the busy OMR stretch, with vehicles facing restrictions around the damaged section.
Teams reached the spot to remove the car and repair the damaged road. Barricades were placed around the sinkhole while restoration work was taken up.
The incident also raised fresh concerns about road safety along stretches where major infrastructure work is being carried out.
Was Metro Construction Responsible?
This road collapse occurred near a Metro construction project that was underway underground, but there was no immediate evidence that this Metro construction project was responsible for this incident.
The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) had not yet confirmed any link between the Metro construction works and the road collapse.
According to the police sources, utilities such as the Metro Water pipelines had been shifted prior to the commencement of this Metro construction work. They have also rejected the idea that this road collapse could have been triggered by a leakage of the water pipeline.
But as per another report, it seems like the 2.2-metre prestressed concrete sewage line, which is about three metres deep underground, had failed at its joint. It apparently resulted in erosion of the soil and finally the road collapse. The workers from the Metro Water and Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation were trying to refill the cavity with concrete grouting.
The cause of the incident shall be known based on the results of this assessment.
OMR Has Seen Earlier Cave-In Incidents
Thursday’s incident has also brought attention to earlier road cave-ins in the Tidel Park-Thiruvanmiyur area.
In May 2025, a car carrying five people fell into a large crater near Tidel Park after a section of OMR suddenly gave way. The occupants were rescued with injuries. At that time, officials attributed the incident to a damaged sewage pipeline and soil erosion, while CMRL had said the Metro construction was not responsible.
The latest incident has therefore renewed concerns about the condition of underground infrastructure and road safety on one of Chennai’s most heavily used routes.
Repair Work Underway
Officials and workers have begun clearing the affected area and repairing the road. The damaged section remains under restriction as restoration work continues.
For commuters using OMR, the incident is another reminder of the risks posed by sudden road collapses, particularly around areas where underground utilities and large infrastructure projects are present.
