Meanwhile, the ASI has claimed no damage to the 17th century monument saying that the leakage in the main dome is due to seepage.
A water leakage has been reported at the main dome of Taj Mahal after incessant rainfall lashed parts of Agra for the past three days.
An official had earlier suspected a hairline crack after noticing moisture on the main dome of the iconic monument. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which looks after historical monuments in the country, had put its staff on surveillance after the leakage was reported.
ASI Claims No Damage to Monument
Meanwhile, the ASI has claimed no damage to the 17th century monument saying that the leakage in the main dome is due to seepage.
Superintending Chief of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Agra circle, Rajkumar Patel said to news agency PTI, “Yes, we have witnessed the leakage in the main dome of the Taj Mahal. After that when we checked it was due to seepage and there was no damage to the main dome. We have checked the main dome through a drone camera.”
A local resident, who works as a government approved tour guide, had said that Taj Mahal is the pride of Agra and the entire nation, adding that it provides employment to hundreds of locals and those who are working in the tourism industry.
“Proper care should be taken of the monument because for the tourism industry people it is the only hope,” Monika Sharma, a government approved tour guide had said.
Incessant Rainfall Inundates Taj Mahal Garden
Earlier on Thursday, a garden in the Taj Mahal premises was inundated due to heavy rainfall.
A purported video of inundated garden outside the UNSECO Word Heritage Site surfaced on social media which evoked curiosity among tourists visiting Taj Mahal.
| The symbol of love, Taj Mahal, is flooded. The garden situated in the premises of this beautiful building is submerged. It has been raining continuously for the last 24 hours in Agra. Efforts are on to drain out the water.#Agra | #UttarPradesh | #india#tajmahal… https://t.co/V3YoVyg79ypic.twitter.com/iMTMWxdPv6— Weather monitor (@Weathermonitors) September 12, 2024
Shakeel Rafiq, a government-approved tour guide, had said that the garden near the central tank in front of the main mausoleum was submerged following heavy rainfall during the week.
“The tourists were surprised to see water in the garden and captured it on their phones. I told them that it had become waterlogged due to continuous rain in Agra,” he had said to the news agency.
Agra Grappled With Rain
The monument and the entire city grappled with waterlogging following heavy rainfall during the past three days. Main roads were flooded and rainwater entered homes in many areas.
One of the National Highways was choked with rain water, crops submerged with rain water and posh localities of the city witnessed water choking due to continuous rain.
The Agra Nagar Nigam has also shared a helpline to lodge complaints regarding waterlogging situation.
The Agra administration has ordered the closure of all schools due to rain.
The Meteorological Department recorded 151 mm of rain in Agra on Thursday, marking the highest rainfall in the area within 24 hours in the past eight decades.
(With inputs from PTI)
