Woman dies after falling into water-filled pit near stormwater drain in Anna Nagar

A 59-year-old woman died after she allegedly slipped and fell into a water-filled pit near a stormwater drain near Anna Nagar Tower Metro Station on Sunday night. An underground cable line was also running near the spot where the woman fell.The deceased’s daughter Sangeetha alleged that her mother died of electrocution, claiming that the police had initially informed her that she might have suffered an electric shock. However, the police said the exact cause of death could be confirmed only after the post-mortem report was received.The victim was identified as Kalavathi, 59, of Padi Puthu Nagar. She worked as a housekeeping employee at a sweet shop in Anna Nagar. According to the police, passers-by, who attempted to rescue her, felt a mild electric current. Based on an alert, a police team reached the spot and rescued the woman. She was taken to the Government Medical College Hospital, where doctors examined her and declared her brought-dead.A senior police officer said a case of unnatural death had been registered and an investigation was under way. “The body has been sent for post-mortem. Only after receiving the report, can we establish whether she died of electrocution,” the officer said.Sources said Electricity Department officials inspected the spot and reportedly ruled out any leakage from the cable that could have caused electrocution.An official with the Greater Chennai Corporation said the stormwater drain work near Tower Park at Anna Nagar Metro station had been completed over a month ago and there was no trench at the spot where the woman was allegedly electrocuted.He said the water had accumulated up to toe level following rain and that the incident could be due to electric shock. The official said the electrical department of GCC had not yet submitted any report regarding exposed wires in the area so far.Following the incident, GCC Commissioner G.S Sameeran and Regional Deputy Commissioner (Central) H.R. Koushik have instructed officials to identify locations with exposed cables and inform the State’s Electricity Board for immediate action.A silt catch pit and one road crossing were also pending at the site, with police permission awaited, the official said. Published - August 24, 2026 08:52 pm IST