150-year-old bridge in Kanpur fell into the Ganga river, the British had fired bullets on revolutionaries from this bridge

Kanpur: A part of the more than 150-year-old Ganga bridge in Kanpur collapsed this morning. This bridge, which was a witness to the freedom struggle, once used to connect Kanpur to Lucknow. However, four years ago, the Kanpur administration had closed this bridge for movement. The Ganga bridge has historical importance, that is why the Municipal Corporation was maintaining it. Crores of rupees were spent on its beautification to show it as a heritage. But on Tuesday, a part of the bridge (about 80 feet) fell and got submerged in the water of the Ganga.

The specialty of this Ganga bridge was that vehicles used to drive on it, and cyclists and pedestrians used to pass below it. It is said that during the British period, this bridge used to be the only route for people going from Kanpur to Lucknow. People used to enter Lucknow from Kanpur via Unnao. However, due to cracks in its pillars, the bridge was considered dangerous for the safety of the people and was closed by the PWD. A wall was raised on both the ends of Shuklaganj and Kanpur. Movement of people was stopped.

The bridge was a witness to the freedom struggle
This bridge built during the British era over the river Ganga on the way from Kanpur to Shuklaganj has also been a witness to the freedom struggle. Once when the revolutionaries were crossing the Ganga, the British fired at them from the top of this bridge. When this bridge was closed a few years ago, it affected the population of 10 lakhs living in Shuklaganj of Unnao. To open it, from the MP of Unnao to many MLAs and ministers, everyone ran from the Chief Minister to the administration.

But Kanpur IIT had checked it and told that this bridge is dilapidated, not suitable for walking and can fall anytime. After which the district administration had completely refused to open this bridge. Today the same thing proved true, when a large part of the Ganga bridge fell early in the morning. The bridge was made of iron below while the top was cemented. Police say that there are more cracks in the bridge, so it has been completely closed. People coming for a walk have also been stopped.

Constructed in 1875
It was told that the British had constructed this Ganga bridge in 1875 to connect Kanpur to Unnao-Lucknow. The construction work was done by the engineers of the East India Company. It took 7 years and 4 months to build it. A plant was installed at Maskar Ghat. The British had constructed this bridge for traffic. Then in 1910, a railway bridge was built near this bridge for the operation of trains. Every day 1.25 lakh people including 22 thousand four-wheelers and two-wheelers used to pass through this bridge. People used to travel on the 12 meter wide and 1.38 kilometer bridge.