OMR sinkhole swallows car near Tidel Park, two occupants escape unharmed
A section of Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) near Tidel Park gave way on Thursday morning, leaving a car trapped in a sinkhole and causing disruption on one of Chennai’s busy arterial roads. The two people inside the vehicle escaped without injuries, according to police sources.
The incident occurred as a white compact SUV was travelling along the stretch. Part of the road near the median suddenly collapsed, trapping one of the vehicle’s front tyres. The car subsequently overturned and came to rest inside the crater.
Eyewitnesses said the occupants managed to get out of the vehicle after noticing the road giving way. Officials from Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Chennai Metro Rail Limited reached the location to examine the damage.
Metro rail construction is under way along the stretch, adding to concerns about the condition of the road. Following the incident, authorities barricaded the affected area, reducing the available carriageway and contributing to traffic congestion.
Two-wheelers were allowed to pass through the stretch, while other vehicles were diverted to ease the movement of traffic. Repair crews began filling the cavity with a cement-based mixture to help stabilise the damaged section.
The incident has also revived memories of a similar accident in May last year. On that occasion, a car carrying a family of four and a driver fell into an approximately eight-foot-deep sinkhole near Tidel Park after the road collapsed. All the occupants were rescued safely.
The latest collapse has renewed concerns about road safety and the need for careful monitoring of stretches affected by major infrastructure projects.