Taj Mahal in Trouble? Video Captures Water Leakage in Main Dome After Heavy Rains

Agra: Amidst incessant rainfall in Agra, water leakage was reported in the Taj Mahal's main dome, leaving visitors and authorities concerned. According to the reports, after incessant rain for two days in Agra, the garden adjacent to the Taj Mahal remained submerged in rainwater. Meanwhile, it is being claimed that a probe was conducted, during which no damage to the main dome was found.

Reports suggested that an official had earlier suspected a hairline crack after noticing moisture on the main dome. 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. The 17th-century mausoleum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also among the seven wonders of the world.

An official of the ASI, stated that the team is using drone cameras to inspect the dome. He said that the leakage was spotted in the main dome of the Taj Mahal, however, during inspection, no damage to the main dome was found. The officials found that the water leakage was due to seepage.

Monitoring The Leakage To Ascertain Whether It Is Continuous Or Intermittent, Says Official

However, the officials are monitoring the leakage issue on the main dome to ascertain, whether the leakage is continuous or intermittent. Meanwhile, visuals of the flooded garden have sparked concerns among locals and tourists. Heavy rainfall during the past two days inundated the garden on the Taj Mahal premises.

A video of the submerged garden went viral on social media evoking curiosity among tourists visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shakeel Rafiq, a government-approved tour guide, said a garden near the central tank in front of the main mausoleum became submerged by rainwater. "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 said.

The heritage site apart, the entire city grappled with waterlogging following heavy rainfall during the past two days. Main roads were flooded and rainwater entered homes in many areas. The Agra Nagar Nigam has shared a helpline to lodge complaints regarding the water logging situation.

District Magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami has ordered the closure of schools on Friday due to the heavy rain. The schools had been closed on Thursday as well.

Necessary repairs will be conducted, and the garden will be restored after the rain subsides, said Mr Patel.

Other historical sites in Agra -- Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Jhunjhun Ka Katora, Rambagh, Mehtab Bagh, Chini Ka Rauza, Akbar's tomb in Sikandra, and the Roman Catholic Cemetery -- also suffered minor damage due to the heavy rain.

Agra recorded 151 mm of rain on Thursday, marking the highest amount of rainfall in 24 hours over the past 80 years. While one of the National Highways was waterlogged, crops were submerged in some parts due to the continuous rain. The Agra administration had ordered all schools to stay shut.