Chennai rain: Cracks in apartment building causes panic among residents

Residents of a Chennai apartment complex were left panicking after major cracks developed in the building’s foundation following heavy rainfall. The Nelson Chamber apartment complex, located in northern Chennai in Amanjikarai, is home to 600 residents across 200 flats. The cracks appeared in the base of the apartment building after severe rains lashed the city on Tuesday, October 15.
Residents blamed the structural damage on a high-rise building being constructed in the area between the apartment complex and dangerously close to the Cooum river canal system.

Residents blame adjacent high-rise construction for the structural damage in the apartment complex.

Heavy rains caused the construction company’s compound to collapse, pulling down the apartment floor and creating major cracks in its foundation.
The building in question is dangerously close to the Cooum canal system and the ongoing construction has sparked concerns among the residents since its inception. A resident named TN Kumar recalled hearing a loud thud during the downpour on Tuesday night. “When we came down, we saw the adjacent compound wall had collapsed, leading to cracks in the base of our apartment. We raised objections during the initial phase of construction, but the work continued despite our concerns,” said Kumar.
Authorities were notified, and Dayanidhi Maran, the DMK MP from the constituency, visited the site to assess the damage. Although the construction company has assured residents that repairs will be made, residents remain unconvinced about the safety of the structure. “We want a team from IIT to conduct a study. If this is dangerous, we will approach the court to halt the construction,” added Kumar.
Chennai received more than 20 cm of rain in certain regions, prompting the authorities to declare a holiday for schools and colleges on October 15 and 16.