CHENNAI: An entire residential complex was sealed after the floor of a bedroom in a flat at Ambattur suddenly caved in up to six feet on Saturday night resulting in injuries to two persons who fell into the pit. The incident created a flutter among the residents.
Chandrasekharan, 65, a retired LIC agent, a resident of SSVK housing complex located on Mounasami Madam Road near Ambattur OT was sleeping in the bedroom last night, while his wife Uma was at the kitchen.
“Around 9 pm, she heard screams from the bedroom and found that the floor of the room had caved in and her husband had fallen into it. She also fell into the pit as she entered the room,” said a senior police officer who visited the spot.
Neighbours immediately alerted the police and fire service personnel who rushed to the spot and helped the couple climb out.
Police said the house was constructed two years ago. The complex has six houses. The police reckon the room caved in by at least six feet.
Firemen who inspected the building suspect a structural flaw in the construction. All 14 members from the five flats panicked as they felt the vibration during the cave in. Locals rushed the couple to a hospital, where they were treated and later sent to their relatives’ house.
Later, the rest of the residents returned to their respective houses. They also filed a complaint with the promoter. They told the police this was the first time such an incident was reported in their complex.
On Sunday, revenue authorities directed the residents to vacate and sealed the housing complex.