What bombs and earthquakes couldn't shake, a 5-rupee gutka has destroyed. Know the full story.

Kolkata Howrah Bridge Viral Video: The Howrah Bridge over the Hooghly River is not just a bridge, but an engineering marvel that has withstood everything from bombings to earthquakes. During World War II, enemy bombs couldn’t even touch it, and it has stood strong against natural disasters as well. But imagine, the bridge that didn’t break in wars and disasters is now losing to a 5-rupee gutka. Yes, you heard right. People’s carelessness and spitting habit have caused this iron giant to rust. The lime and salt present in gutka are slowly eating away at the steel. This is why the real enemy of the Howrah Bridge today is not cannons or bombs, but spit.

The real name of the Howrah Bridge is Rabindra Setu, which was named in 1965, but it is still known as Howrah Bridge. According to media reports, its construction was started by the British government in 1936 and was completed after about six years of hard work in 1942. The bridge was opened to the general public on February 3, 1943. Interestingly, it has never been formally inaugurated. The reason was that World War II was going on at that time, and the British government decided to open it for public use without any ceremony.

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Safe from War and Natural Disasters

During World War II, the Japanese army carried out air raids on Kolkata. Although the Howrah Bridge was targeted, the bombs couldn’t even touch it. Later, during excavation, a bomb was found which is now kept in the police museum. In addition, the bridge has withstood natural disasters like earthquakes and still stands strong today.

Gutka Becomes the Biggest Threat

Even after surviving wars and disasters, Howrah Bridge’s real trouble turned out to be gutka. The spitting by pedestrians has caused a layer of gutka to accumulate on the bridge. The lime and salt in it are causing the steel to rust. After this problem was discovered in 2013, work began to replace the steel plates with fiberglass.

People’s Reactions on Social Media

People reacted strongly to a recent video made on this issue. Some joked, “Ajay Devgan supremacy,” while others said, “The power of 5 rupees.” Many users jokingly blamed brands, while some called it shameful. Despite this, the bridge still stands strong and remains the pride of Kolkata.

Howrah Bridge

The Howrah Bridge is a famous cantilever bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India, connecting the cities of Howrah and Kolkata. Completed in 1943, it was built without any nuts or bolts, using riveted construction, and was originally named the New Howrah Bridge. It remains one of the world’s busiest bridges and is an iconic symbol of the Kolkata metropolitan area.

Hooghly River

The Hooghly River is a distributary of the Ganges River in West Bengal, India, historically known as the Bhagirathi. It has been a vital trade artery for centuries and was the site of early European colonial settlements, including the British East India Company’s base at Calcutta. The river remains a crucial commercial waterway and is lined with numerous ghats, temples, and historic monuments.

Rabindra Setu

Rabindra Setu, commonly known as the Howrah Bridge, is a famous cantilever bridge over the Hooghly River in Kolkata, India. It was completed in 1943 and was renamed in 1965 after the Bengali Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The bridge is an iconic symbol of the city and a vital transportation link.

British government

The British government is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, with its modern structure largely shaped by historical developments like the Magna Carta in 1215 and the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Its core institutions, including the monarchy, Parliament, and the Prime Minister, have evolved over centuries to distribute power and provide governance for the United Kingdom.

Japanese army

The Imperial Japanese Army was the official ground-based armed force of the Japanese Empire from 1868 until 1945. It was formally established during the Meiji Restoration and became a major force in the Asia-Pacific region, playing a central role in conflicts including the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. The army was dissolved after Japan’s surrender in 1945.

Kolkata

Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is the capital of India’s West Bengal state and a major historical and cultural hub. It served as the capital of British India until 1911, growing from the East India Company’s trading post at Fort William. The city is renowned for its colonial architecture, vibrant arts scene, and as the home of luminaries like Rabindranath Tagore.

World War II

World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world’s nations. It was primarily fought between the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allies (led by the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom). The war resulted in an unprecedented scale of destruction and the tragic loss of millions of lives, including the Holocaust.

police museum

The Police Museum is a cultural institution dedicated to preserving and exhibiting the history of law enforcement. Its collections typically include historical artifacts, uniforms, equipment, and vehicles that trace the evolution of policing. These museums often serve to educate the public on the role of police in society and commemorate their service and sacrifices.