British Period Railway Tracks Discovered Under The Ganga River Near Haridwar’s Har Ki Pauri

During the annual Ganga canal closure this year, locals in Haridwar were surprised to find old railway tracks beneath the Ganga River. The tracks were discovered a few kilometres away from the Haridwar Railway Station and have raised questions about whether trains used to run in the area where the Ganga Canal was constructed in the 1850s! Read on to know more about this.

People Surprised To Find Railway Tracks Under Ganga River In Haridwar

Residents of Haridwar were surprised by the appearance of railway tracks under the Ganga River at Har Ki Pauri. These tracks were discovered during the temporary closing of the Ganga Canal in the area when the water levels were extremely low.

Despite the canal closure being an annual event, this was the first time the tracks were seen by the people. The tracks were found about 3 kilometres away from the present-day Haridwar Railway Station. This has made people wonder if trains used to run in the area where the Ganga Canal was created in the 1850s.

According to a News18 report, residents believe that handcarts used to run on these tracks to transport construction material for the canal around the 1850s. Upon completion, these tracks were then used for the inspection of the dam and embankment. History expert Professor Dr. Sanjay Maheshwari also spoke to News18 and confirmed this hypothesis. According to him, the canal was an important project for the then-British governor, Lord Dalhousie.

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Why Is The Ganga Canal Closed Every Year?

Now, we are sure you must be wondering why the Ganga Canal is closed for some time every year. Well, this is done by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department for the maintenance of the Ganga Canal. During the closure, the authorities carry out infrastructural work and all the necessary maintenance and cleaning of the river and around the ghats. This closure usually takes place from Dussehra to Diwali. This closure also impacts the water supply in many parts of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

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What are your theories about the railway tracks discovered under the Ganga River? Let us know in the comments!

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)