Suspension Bridge across Cooum, Madras

        Can you  believe there was a Suspension bridge in Madras across Cooum at Chitandripet. This  was constructed in 1831 probably with imported materials. But  unfortunately this  bridge crashed  down in June 1840 when the  soldiers of 33rd Native Infantry were crossing the bridge on their way to  escort the  Nawab  Ghulam Mohd. Ghouse Khan in the customary procession to his father's tomb.   A first hand account of the incident.

        " An accident occurred at Madras  attended with great  personal injury  to many individuals and loss of life. On the  1st  June  the 33rd N.I. were  crossing the  suspension bridge at Chindatripet on their way to escort the Nabob and take part in the customary procession to his father's tomb when one of the suspension chains at the eastern end of the bridge  gave way precipitating the roadway and about a company and a half of sepoys into the stream below. The  crash was tremendous one Subedar,  4 Havildars and twenty six men were severely  hurt and bruised and several more slightly injured and one dead. The part which gave way was the links of the eastern suspension chain where they pass over the friction roller of the north eastern pier. Two of the three links snapped across".