The Southern Railway and the Pamban Port authorities heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday after a tug boat that remained stranded near the Pamban rail bridge for around two weeks was salvaged.

A Tuticorin-based firm used its four high-powered boats to pull the tug boat away from the bridge at around 2 a. m. The boats took the stranded boat around three nautical miles away from the bridge.

The Railway suspended train services from 12.30 a. m. to 4.30 a. m. over the bridge to facilitate the operation.

Pamban Port authorities confirmed the salvage operation. Confirming the successful operation, the authorities added, "The barge and tug will be anchored in Rameswaram fishing jetty temporarily and they will set sail only after getting clearance from Railways which had slapped cases claiming damages from the shipping company."

After the tug boat was taken away, the Pamban Port conservator let a pair of tug boat and barge to cross through the Pamban Bridge from south to north. The boat and barge were carrying a generator for Ennore thermal power plant.

The boat and the barge had been waiting for clearance since mid of this month. A coast guard vessel and a private vessel which was on its way to Kakinada also crossed through the bridge.

Another pair of tug boat and a barge, carrying a crane from Kerala's Malpe port is scheduled to cross through the bridge today, Jan. 28.