Did you know ? Chennai was bombed by SMS Emden during World War I

 Many oil tanks of the Burmah Oil Company, along with a merchant vessel in the Madras harbour, were destroyed in the attack, resulting in around 25 casualties. 

The attack lasted for half an hour, after which the Emden slipped away before the British gun batteries in Royapuram could repel the attack. Though the damage was minimal, many people fled Chennai in fear post the attack. Chennai was the only India city to be bombed by the Central Powers during World War I. One of the shells from the Emden even landed near the High Court of Madras, which is close to the Port of Chennai. Later, a plaque was installed on the very spot where the shell landed and Tamil vocabulary got a new word — Emden, to denote someone who is fearless. 

The Emden went on to wreak havoc for the Allies, sinking close to 30 of their battleships and merchant vessels, before her captain decided to run it aground during a battle with HMAS Sydney.