The incident took place on the night of 22 December 1964,
New Delhi,(Pamban Bridge Tragedy: A Horrific History):The Pamban Bridge, India’s first marine railway bridge, is famous not only for its engineering but also for a tragedy that added a dark chapter to the history of Indian Railways. The incident took place on the night of 22 December 1964, when a severe cyclonic storm hit the Rameswaram island in Tamil Nadu and swept the Pamban-Dhanushkodi passenger train (train no. 653) into the sea waves. The tragedy not only took away hundreds of lives but also deserted a vibrant town like Dhanushkodi forever.
Introduction to Pamban Bridge
The Pamban Bridge, built by British engineers in 1914, was an important railway route connecting the Rameswaram island to mainland India. The 2.06 km long bridge was famous for its unique design, which had a double-leaf bascule section that could be raised to let ships pass. It was India’s longest sea bridge until the Bandra-Worli Sea Link broke this record in 2010. But despite its strength and beauty, the wrath of nature made it witness a tragedy that still gives people goosebumps.
Cyclone of 1964
On the night of 22 December 1964, when the country was in peaceful sleep, a fierce cyclone was heading towards Rameswaram Island. The speed of the winds of this storm had reached 280 kilometers per hour and tidal waves of 23 feet high were rising in the sea. That night, train number 653 left from Pamban station towards Dhanushkodi. There were about 200 passengers on the train, who were heading towards their destination. At around 11 pm, when the train was crossing the Pamban Bridge, the storm wreaked havoc.
The force of the cyclone was so great that it derailed the train and threw it into the sea. The six-coach train was swept away by the waves and sank into the sea in no time. When the storm subsided in the morning, only the engine of the train was visible above the water. Everything else—passengers, coaches, and hopes—was lost to the depths of the ocean. Nearly 200 people died in the accident, although the exact number was never clear, as many bodies were never found.
Destruction of Dhanushkodi
The tragedy was not limited to the train. Dhanushkodi, which was a prosperous and busy town at the time, was completely devastated by the cyclone. The town had a railway station, post office, temples, churches, and ports, and was a hub for ferry service between India and Sri Lanka. But the storm turned it into a ghost town. It is estimated that more than 1800 residents of Dhanushkodi lost their lives in the disaster. After the storm, the government declared Dhanushkodi unsafe to live in, and it remains deserted as a tourist destination even today.
Pamban Bridge condition
The storm also severely damaged the Pamban Bridge. Several of its steel girders collapsed, and it was temporarily closed to rail traffic. Two railway employees—a winchman and a bridge inspector—who were on duty that night miraculously survived. They saved their lives by hanging from the bridge structure for 12 hours and were rescued by boat the next day. They were later felicitated by the central government for their bravery.
Repair work on the bridge began and it was reopened, but the incident exposed its vulnerabilities. Over time, sea winds and corrosion further weakened the old Pamban Bridge, leading to its permanent closure to rail traffic in 2022.
New Pamban Bridge: A New Beginning
The old bridge has now been replaced by a new Pamban Bridge, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 6 April 2025. It is India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge, a symbol of modern technology and robust design. The new bridge is capable of withstanding winds of 230 kmph, much more powerful than the 1964 cyclone. The 2.08 km long bridge will not only make rail traffic faster and safer, but will also provide a better route for ships.
The Pamban Bridge tragedy is an incident that shows the uncontrolled power of nature and the limitations of man-made structures. The 1964 accident is still alive in people’s minds, reminding us how important it is to pay attention to safety and strength along with progress. The new Pamban Bridge is a positive step in this direction, which not only symbolizes technological advancement, but also promises to make the future safer by learning from that painful past.
