S. Vijay Kumar and C. Jaishankar
Renovated structure will be dedicated to nation today
MADURAI/RAMANATHAPURAM: Rameswaram will be linked to the rest of the country by the broad gauge railway network on Sunday.
The Pamban Bridge, one of the oldest sea bridges in the world, will start a new innings on its strengthened structure. When it comes to rail connectivity, Rameswaram has a history. Prior to train services, boats were the only mode of transport to link this island with the mainland.
Going by official records, the decision to build a viaduct across Palk Strait and to run a ferry service between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar (in Sri Lanka) was taken at a meeting at Dhanushkodi on November 25, 1908, which was attended by Sir Arthur Lawley, Governor of Madras, Sir Henry McCallum, Governor of Ceylon, and Trevredyn Wynne, President of the Railway Board. On February 24, 1914, the train-cum-ferry service was flagged off, thereby establishing what was known as the ‘Indo-Ceylon connection.’
Built in three years, the 2.06-km Pamban bridge was unique as it could open up and allow vessels to pass through. The movable span was designed by the Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge Company, Chicago. While passengers were transported from Chennai Egmore to Dhanushkodi in Boat Mail, steamers ferried them from there to Talaimannar.
According to information available at the Madurai Division of the Southern Railway, this link to Sri Lanka was cut off on December 22, 1964, when a cyclone destroyed the railway system beyond Rameswaram. The turbulent sea and high tides also had their impact on the Pamban bridge. On the fateful night, Train No. 653 Pamban-Dhanushkodi passenger left Pamban at 11.55 p.m. with 110 passengers, including a group of school students, on board.
A few metres ahead of Dhanushkodi, the signal failed. With pitch darkness around and no indication of the signal being restored , the driver blew a long whistle and decided to take the risk.
Minutes after the train started rolling along the sea, a huge wave smashed it submerging all the six coaches under deep water. The tragedy that left no survivors came to light only after 48 hours when the railway headquarters issued a bulletin based on the information given by Marine Superintendent, Mandapam.
The renovated Pamban railway bridge and the broad gauge line connecting the island will be dedicated to the nation by Congress president Sonia Gandhi at a function to be held here on Sunday.