Dhanushkodi railway station

Dhanushkodi railway station is an abandoned railway station in Tamil Nadu, India. It was abandoned during the 1964 Rameswaram cyclone. It is one of the two branch lines gets diverted from Pamban Junction one is Pamban Junction–Rameswaram Branch line and the other is Pamban Junction–Dhanushkodi Branch line. A train called Boat mail went from Madras(now Chennai) Egmore Station to Ceylon(now Sri Lanka) with a halt at Dhanushkodi station. It was the prime and most economic way to reach Ceylon.

Dhanushkodi
Heritage building of Dhanushkodi's old railway station
General information
Location	India
Coordinates	9.1793°N 79.4157°E / 9.1793; 79.4157
Owned by	Indian Railways
Operated by	Madurai railway division
Line(s)	Manamadurai–Rameswaram branch line
Distance	15 kilometres (9.3 mi)
Platforms	2
Tracks	3
Train operators	Southern Railway
Connections	Bus, Auto
Construction
Structure type	on ground station
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Other information
Station code	DNSKDI
Zone(s)	Southern Railway
Division(s)	Madurai
Fare zone	Southern Railway
History
Closed	23 December 1964 (1964-12-23)
Route map km to Dindigul Junction 0 Madurai Junction to Bodinayakkanur to Virudhunagar Junction Tirupparankuram overpass SH 32 SH 195 4 Madurai East NH 38 Silaiman Bypass 12 Silaiman Silaiman Bypass Tiruppuvanam Bypass 21 Tiruppuvanam Tiruppuvanam Bypass 32 Tiruppachetti 41 Rajagambiram NH 87 to Karaikkudi Junction 48 Manamadurai Junction to Virudhunagar Junction 58 Sudiyur NH 87 NH 87 SH 29 72 Paramakudi Paramakudi Canal NH 87 92 Sattirakudi 107 Ramanathapuram SH 49 NH 32 116 Valantaravai 127 Uchippuli NH 87 131 Pirappanvalasai Pillaimadam 141 Mandapam Camp 144 Mandapam Pamban Bridge over Palk Strait Rameswaram Island   NH 87 151 Pamban Junction 168 Towards Dhanushkodi Terminal Branch out of service to Dhanushkodi ( under construction ) 161 Rameswaram Line end
Location Dhanushkodi Location within Tamil Nadu Dhanushkodi Dhanushkodi (India)

Cyclone and Aftermath

In December 23, 1964, the 1964 Rameswaram cyclone had struck the town of Dhanushkodi. The town was submerged and both lines of the station got destroyed in that cyclone. At the same time Pamban - Dhanushkodi Train(Train No. 653) overturned at the Pamban bridge killing 200 passengers of the train. Immediately after the cyclone, Rameswaram branch line was constructed and opened to traffic but Dhanushkodi branch line was left abandoned.

As of now Madurai railway division maintained the station till its operation in 1964. It had 2 platforms, 3 tracks and are now left with open remnants left to see for tourists visiting Dhanushkodi.

External links

• Dhanushkodi railway station at the India Rail Info