New Delhi:

Due to heavy rainfall in September this year in Agra region, “few water droplets” were noticed on September 12 through the ceiling of the main mausoleum of Taj Mahal, the government informed Parliament on Thursday.

Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said this in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha.

He was asked whether there were leakage, cracks and damage to Taj Mahal due to excessive rain in the region this monsoon, and if so, the extent of damage to the monument.

“This year, there was continuous rainfall for more than three days from 10th to 12th September, 2024 in Agra region. Due to this heavy rainfall, few water droplets were noticed on 12.09.2024 through the ceiling of main mausoleum of Taj Mahal,” the Union minister said in his response.

However, “no serious” leakage, cracks and damage were noticed, he said.

“The water penetrated through the minor joints,” Mr Shekhawat added.

He was also asked if actions had been taken by government to repair the damage and prevent further damage due to rain in future.

“After detailed inspection using LiDAR and thermal scanning preventive measures were taken immediately by sealing the joints and gaps to stop water penetrations,” he said.

LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging and uses laser-based technology for scanning structures.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A thick blanket of smog covered the Taj Mahal on Thursday morning as the pollution levels worsened in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra. Visuals showed the UNESCO World Heritage site disappearing behind the smog, making it barely visible to tourists.

In one of the pictures, tourists can be seen walking towards the Taj Mahal, but with no visibility in front of them.

According to the Central Pollution of Control Board (CPCB) data, the air quality index in Agra stood at 193 in the ‘moderate’ category.

The minimum temperature in Agra stood at 17 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature is likely to settle around 30 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The weather department, in its bulletin, said that fog or mist would occur on Thursday. The dense fog is expected to continue till Monday, it said.

The increased smog and pollution are due to the rising stubble burning in nearby areas.

Last week, the Centre doubled the stubble burning fine in Delhi and adjoining areas due to the plummeting air quality. According to the new rules, farmers having land of less than two acres shall pay an environmental compensation of Rs 5,000, while the fine will be Rs 10,000 for farmers having land of two acres or more but less than five acres. Farmers having land of more than five acres shall pay an environmental compensation of Rs 30,000.

Agra:

A member of a right-wing group carrying a ‘kanwar’ on her shoulders tried to enter the Taj Mahal to offer ‘Gangajal’ on Monday, with the group claiming that the monument was a Lord Shiva temple called ‘Tejo Mahalaya’. However, she was stopped by the policemen of ‘Taj Suraksha’ deployed at the barrier of the west gate of the Taj Mahal.

She was stopped at the barrier of the west gate and was not able to enter the Taj Mahal, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Taj Suraksha, Syed Areeb Ahmad told PTI.

“After some time, she decided on her own to offer the ‘Gangajal’ at the Rajeshwar temple,” Ahmad added.

Meenu Rathore, who claimed herself to be the district president of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha in Agra, insisted police officials allow her to offer the ‘Gangajal’ in “Tejo Mahalaya”.

She further claimed that Lord Shiva came in her dreams and asked her to offer the ‘Gangajal’ at the monument.

“I came to Tejo Mahalaya to offer the ‘Gangajal’. Lord Shiv called me in my dreams and I brought kanwar to offer at Tejo Mahalaya. But, they (policemen) have stopped me from going ahead,” Rathore said.

Sanjay Jaat, a spokesperson of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, said, “It is our right to offer the ‘Ganga Jal’ in Taj Mahal as Taj Mahal is ‘Tejo Mahalaya’, a temple of Lord Shiva. She brought kanwar from Soron ji in Kasganj and reached Agra after two days.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)