8 months ago
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A radical of young past enthusiasts from Palakkad visited the British-era Kanhirakadavu chromatic obstruction arch span adjacent Kottekkad connected Friday, seeking to uncover forgotten chapters of section history.
The 165-year-old chromatic arch span crossed the Kalpathy stream is among the oldest railway bridges successful the country, holding important humanities value. Surprisingly, small is known astir this bridge, contempt dozens of trains crossing it regular betwixt Palakkad and Coimbatore.
Two dozen-odd past buffs reached the chromatic span arsenic portion of the Palghat History Tourism Circuit task organised jointly by the Palghat History Club and Palakkad Fort Pedallers successful relation with Sahyadri Nature Organisation, Government Victoria College’s Centre for Studies successful Local History, Biodiversity Management Committee of Akathethara grama panchayat and Decathlon.
A twelve past students from the Victoria College were among the visitors, listening intently arsenic Palghat History Club president Boban Mattumantha and caput Lijo Panangadan shared the bridge’s hidden communicative – that of Kerala’s longest-standing obstruction arch bridge.
The chromatic obstruction arch span astatine Kanhirakadavu adjacent Kottekkad successful Palakkad.
Freedom fight
“This 15-arch chromatic bridge, with each arch spanning 30 feet, played a relation successful our state movement. Freedom fighters tried to destruct it during the 1942 Quit India Movement,” they said.
The span was linked to the Thiruvalathur weaponry lawsuit during the Quit India Movement. Five young men from Palakkad had attempted to derail a 22-wagon goods bid carrying arms from Madras by removing food plates adjacent the chromatic arch bridge.
The sabotage effort failed arsenic the bid passed through, and the British responded with raids and arrests. Later, explosives stored successful a location astatine Thiruvalathur exploded, starring to T. Balakrishnan Nair of Polpully being made the premier accused successful the case.
“We person precise small accusation astir this bridge. We should find it and conserve it for posterity,” said Divya Thulasi, past teacher from the Victoria College, starring the pupil team.
Newspaper records
“According to paper records, the span was designed by technologist Keppel. Interestingly, it was inaugurated by an English woman, who ran a bid crossed it with the assistance of the loco pilot,” said Mr. Mattumantha.
Palakkad Fort Pedallers caput Jayaram Kootaplavil and convener Dileep A.G. led the cyclists.
The Palghat History Tourism Circuit aims to item Palakkad’s affluent past and practice to a planetary audience. It leverages nationalist information and societal media to showcase the region’s notable structures, places, struggles and memories.
