When 25-Metre Waves Swept Away A Train: The 59-Year-Old Dhanushkodi Disaster

A night train journey turned into a nightmare 59 years ago when a train departing from Pamban, Tamil Nadu, was engulfed by massive waves near Dhanushkodi. The train, carrying over a hundred passengers, sank into the sea before the loco pilot could react.

The cyclone destroyed not only the train but the entire town, leaving scars that remain visible today.

When And Where The Train Departed

The passenger train left Pamban at 11:55 pm on December 22, 1964. Most passengers were from Dhanushkodi, while some from Rameswaram disembarked there for pilgrimage.

Dhanushkodi is located about 13 km from Rameswaram. The train was moving slowly, and most passengers were asleep, unaware that it would be their final journey.

The Cyclone Strikes

As the train approached Dhanushkodi (between 681-682 km), a devastating

cyclone hit the region. Waves rose up to 25 feet, and winds reached speeds of 240 km/h. The train was swept off the tracks and carried into the sea, while the town of Dhanushkodi was completely destroyed.

The six-coach passenger train was entirely submerged by the cyclone. None of the passengers survived, and the wreckage of the coaches has never been recovered.

Remaining Structures Today

The remnants of the railway station, church, and hospital still stand as silent witnesses to the catastrophe. These structures serve as a stark reminder of the scale of the disaster.

The Meteorological Department had issued a cyclone warning, but it was ignored. The decision to dispatch the train despite these warnings is regarded as a grave error. While the cyclone affected parts of Sri Lanka, Dhanushkodi suffered the most destruction.

Before the cyclone, trains ran between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi. However, operations were permanently discontinued following the disaster.

The cyclone obliterated the railway station, trains, hospitals, churches, schools, temples, and post offices. Most villagers and passengers lost their lives, and only ruins remain today.

One of the destroyed structures was a church where preparations for Christmas were underway. Today, only its skeletal structure remains.

Proximity To Sri Lanka

Dhanushkodi is India’s last village before Sri Lanka, separated by a narrow sea. A road built to the seashore ends with a wall to prevent vehicles from accidentally entering the water.

Before the cyclone, Dhanushkodi was a busy town with ferry services to Sri Lanka.

Why People Don’t Stay Overnight

The area remains largely uninhabited at night due to the high risk of cyclones and the memory of the disaster. Villagers run their shops during the day but return to safer areas at night.

Shopkeeper Chetriti recalls that his parents survived the cyclone by fleeing, though both have since passed away. The ruined station, church, and school continue to stand as reminders of the tragic event.