Eight van passengers had a narrow escape when their vehicle jumped the platform of the Pamban road bridge after the driver swerved the vehicle to avoid logs, hit the railings but stopped short of falling into the sea below, police said.
The Pamban road bridge is built across the sea connecting Rameswaram island with the mainland.
Police said the van driver had swerved the vehicle to avoid hitting coconut tree logs which fell from a tractor and rolled down after the rope holding them together snapped.
The van jumped the platform of the bridge, hit the railings and stopped.
Traffic was affected for half an hour following the accident.
Police said a one metre stretch of the railings was damaged.
The driver of the van and the tractor have been arrested, police said.
