The road cave-in on Chinnakadai Street in Mayiladuthurai on Wednesday
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Traffic was disrupted on Chinnakadai Street in Mayiladuthurai on Wednesday morning after a portion of the road caved in, reportedly due to damage to an underground sewer pipeline, prompting residents to reiterate their demand for a permanent solution to recurring drainage problems.The cave-in occurred around 9.30 a.m. near the municipal office on Mayiladuthurai–Tharangambadi main road when a lorry carrying a load was passing through the stretch. Motorists following the vehicle managed to stop in time as a pit about three feet wide suddenly formed on the road. Preliminary information indicated that the collapse was caused by a break in the underground sewer line, an issue that residents said has recurred frequently.Police personnel rushed to the spot and closed traffic on Chinnakadai Street, diverting vehicles bound for Tharangambadi and Karaikal via Mayuranathar Melaveethi and South Street, leading to congestion in the surrounding areas.Mayiladuthurai municipality, which comprises 36 wards, has been implementing an underground sewerage scheme launched in 2008 at an estimated cost of ₹48 crore. Under the project, sewage is conveyed through trunk pipelines to the treatment facility at Arubadhi, where it is processed, with treated water intended for fodder cultivation. Ten pumping stations were set up to prevent stagnation by periodically pumping sewage.However, residents alleged that inadequate maintenance over the years — the system has been in operation for more than 17 years — has resulted in leaks and damage to pipelines, causing sewage seepage, soil erosion, and repeated road cave-ins over the past five years. Overflow from manholes and mixing of sewage with stormwater drains and irrigation channels have also been reported in several parts of the town.Meanwhile, works are under way to expand the sewer network to uncovered areas and to establish a new modern treatment facility at Arupathi, along with maintenance activities, for which ₹83 crore has been allocated.Municipal Chairperson N. Selvaraj and officials inspected the site and initiated repair work on the damaged sewer line. Published - February 25, 2026 09:27 pm IST
