The Sheshadripuram 1st Main Road in Velachery caved Monday at around 9 a.m., allegedly due to the on-going construction of a high rise building by a private company, as per a Greater Chennai Corporation official.
The crack, which measures 70 metres in length, is situated on a busy road travelled by School vans, heavy trucks and buses, office-goers and others throughout the day. No individual or vehicles suffered any harm but residents on an apartment complex situated at the street were alarmed and sought immediate intervention.
As per the GCC, the construction took place on black cotton soil which is unsafe for buildings to stand on. “While digging, machines may have hit the rock situated beneath the soil, giving rise to reverberations that may have in turn lead to the opening up of the road,” the official said.
While a thorough investigation on the construction site will ensue, members from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) and Anna University inspected the area, collected samples and are said to submit their results soon.