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Monday, July 1, 2024

AN OLD BRIDGE AT PRAYAGRAJ (FORMERLY ALLAHABAD) BUILT BY BRITISH IN INDIA

 

The speciality of Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) is that it is surrounded by rivers on three sides and all three of its railways are made of iron by the British.
These three bridges are a great example of engineering and the oldest Nanny Bridge is one of the longest and oldest bridges in India, it is a double-deck steel truss bridge built on the Yamuna river in the southern part of the city to Allahabad suburban Nanny The adds up.
There is a two-lane railway line on the upper deck that connects Nanny Junction railway station to Prayagraj Junction railway station, which is India's busiest Delhi-Howrah railway track on which hundreds of trains pass daily.
The bridge was designed by Consulting Engineer Alexander Meadows Randell and his father James Meadows Randell and led by British engineer Mr. Siveley.
It still stands successfully 160 years after its birth and trains cross at its own pace, while the lower deck has been through the road since 1927.
Construction of this bridge began in 1859 and trains began on 15 August 1865. 44 lakh 46 thousand three hundred rupees were spent during the construction of 3150 feet long bridge.
Take a look at the figures so it took 6 years to build this bridge made of 30 million cubic bricks and hail, all pillars (span) foundation is up to 42 feet deep.
The stones of Jama Masjid of Allahabad are placed in the pillars of this bridge which was martyred by Colonel Neil. The huge mosque built by Mughal Emperor Akbar was west of the fort located in Sangam where it is Minto Park today, after the martyrdom of Maulvi Liaquat Ali in the war of 1857, the British demolished this Jama Masjid and put stones on this pillar.
10 thousand people could offer Namaz together in the mosque.
13 of the 17 pillars (span) of this bridge made of 4300 tonnes of iron garders are 61 meters long, meaning each pillar is 200 feet. 02 span is 12.20 meters long and 01 span is 9.18 meters long.
A pillar is 67 feet long and 17 feet wide called elephant feet.
There are some very interesting facts about the construction of this bridge.
The flow was quite fast during construction of the bridge standing at 17 Pillar (Span). Dug well after nine feet down the water level, then the stone was masoned by laying ashes and stone floor, which was 52 feet diameter. Pillar was built on it.
But its number 13 pillar was to be built in the deepest place of Jamuna river. The flow of water was so fast that whenever the pillar was raised, it washed away.
Due to the high flow in Yamuna water, making pillar number 13 was the most difficulty. The bridge's and other pillars were almost built by 1862 but it took nearly 2 years to build pillar number 13.
The pillar molding platform that was prepared throughout the day would have been swept away in the river by the next morning. No engineering sample was able to sustain the foundation of a pole. People were working hard day and night, but the Yamuna's stream used to change water on all the hard work.
Engineer Mr. Sivele writes in his diary that the water flow was very fast in this place, repeatedly the pillar fell and foundation could not stand. The reason for which the whole bridge was incomplete and his whole family was also in trouble. She couldn't sleep even at night.
After many days the engineer had a dream at night that his wife was standing in the water in the same place and wearing sandals, high heels and water is coming next to him cutting that sandals and nothing happens to the sandals So he made the same sandle-shaped map that cuts water. Then went and found this one who is different.
It took more than 20 months to make this 13 number pillar. It's design pillar is like elephant feet or say shoe shape means shoes.
Prayagraj has all legends regarding this pillar. People say that the bridge building company was not understanding anything, that's why a pilgrim of Sangam Nagari advised the engineers that the bridge construction will not be completed until human sacrifice is given in Yamuna.
And during that time there was a sacrifice in Yamuna after which pillar number 13 of the bridge was ready. The well was dug down the water level 9 feet to prepare this pillar. It could only be made after human sacrifice.
A 52 feet diameter arch of stone masonry was built on it, the pillar was shaped an elephant leg and provided stability to the bridge.
People say in the dark of night, the man who was sacrificed is often found sitting on the shoe.
The rest of the bridge is a haunted house next to Prayagraj Degree College on which Discovery Channel has run a series of several episode. (The picture is in the comment box)
Allahabad Agricultural Institute, which is rotten from this bridge, has also taken a haunted history which has occurred many times of people disappearance.
There are also many stories about the Nanny railway station connected to this bridge and is considered a haunted railway station where that human is often seen at night.

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