Chennai: Toxic foam blanketed a road in Tamil Nadu's Hosur, about 40 km from Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru, on Thursday morning following heavy rainfall and the release of water from a nearby reservoir, media reports said.

The foam, which rose to about five feet, disrupted daily life as visuals showed rescue teams working to clear the hazardous froth.

The Krishnagiri Superintendent of Police confirmed that the road was blocked, and traffic had to be diverted to ensure public safety, according to a Times Now report.

According to the Met office, Hosur received over 11 cm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, causing water levels to rise in the Kelavarapalli reservoir.

As a result, water was discharged into the Thenpennai river, which flooded nearby areas, leading to the accumulation of toxic foam on the road.

The exact composition of pollutants causing the foam remains unconfirmed, though it is believed that industrial waste from neighbouring Karnataka might have been released into the river under the cover of heavy rains.

The foam is suspected to contain harmful chemicals, likely discharged by industrial units, which have taken advantage of the increased water flow to dispose of untreated effluents.

This has raised concerns about environmental hazards, as toxic froth poses significant risks to public health and the surrounding ecosystem.

Authorities are investigating the situation, but no official reports have yet been released regarding the specific pollutants responsible for the contamination.

Residents in the area are now facing the double threat of flooding and chemical pollution, as the toxic foam continues to affect local infrastructure.

Efforts are underway to contain and clear the froth, but the situation has exposed the broader issue of industrial pollution in the region and the potential dangers of unchecked effluent disposal during heavy rains.