Incessant rain in Agra caused significant damage to the city’s historical monuments, including Taj Mahal. Archaeological Survey of India had put its staff on “surveillance” after water began to seep from the main dome of Taj, while its adjacent garden remained inundated.
Superintending archaeologist Rajkumar Patel said that a probe is being carried out to “find out from where water is dripping from the main dome of Taj”. He added: “Moisture was seen inside the main mausoleum. There may be a hairline crack on the dome’s stones, causing leakage. The place where water drops are falling is being checked, to find out whether it is continuously in the same position or is falling intermittently. In any case, necessary repairs will be carried out. The garden will be rejuvenated once the rain stops.”
A tourist guide said, “Heavy downpour submerged a garden near central tank in front of the main mausoleum. There was also water leakage from the dome, which reached the chamber housing the tombs of Mughal emperor Shahjahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal.”
A video purportedly of the inundated garden was circulated on social media, evoking curiosity among locals and tourists visiting Unesco World Heritage Site.
As per the Met dept, 151 mm rain was recorded in Agra last week - the highest in the area within 24 hours “over the past eight decades”. The shower also caused “minor damage” to historical monuments like Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Jhunjhun Ka Katora, Rambagh, Mehtab Bagh, Chini Ka Rauza, Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra and Roman Catholic Cemetery. Many decades-old trees also fell across the city. At Fatehpur Sikri, a 20-metre-long wall between Agra Gate and Buland Darwaza collapsed.
At the centrally-protected Jhunjhun Ka Katora, an old tree fell causing damage to the outer wall. The actual damage caused will be ascertained once the tree is removed, an official pointed out. The entire city also grappled with waterlogging. Over 20 houses collapsed in the district and at least 15 people were injured.
