River flowing alongside Taj Mahal rose to 152 meters on Tuesday, well above warning level for potential danger
\n AGRA
\nA river that runs through the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has risen to lap the compound walls of the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra city, causing concern about damage to the 17th-century white marble monument.
\nThe water level of the Yamuna river has increased over the last few days after unusually heavy rain in northern India, including Uttar Pradesh, which has received 108% of its normal rainfall since the four-month monsoon season began on June 1.
\nAccording to India\u2019s Central Water Commission (CWC), the portion of the river flowing alongside the Taj Mahal rose to 152 metres (499 feet) late on Tuesday, well above the warning level for potential danger of 151.4 metres. The level considered dangerous is 152.4 metres.
\nLocal media outlets reported that the last time the river reached the walls of the monument, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal, was 45 years ago, in 1978.
\nCWC data also indicates that its station near the monument recorded the river\u2019s highest flood level that year at 154.76 metres.
\nVisuals from the area on Tuesday showed the red sandstone boundary wall of the Taj Mahal surrounded by muddy water, with pieces of garbage floating in it, the mausoleum itself looming over the scene, untouched by the river.
\nOfficials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which oversees the Taj Mahal along with several other monuments in the country, said there was \u201cno serious concern\u201d about the monument at present.
\n\u201cIf it rains more, or the water stays this high for some days, we will need to assess the situation again,\u201d said Raj Kumar Patel, superintendent archaeologist with ASI.
\nSeveral other monuments and gardens located in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal, closer to the banks of the Yamuna, however, \u201chave been submerged\u201d and damaged, he said.
\nThese include the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, often called \u201cbaby Taj\u201d, which dates back to the 1600s, and Mehtab Bagh, also from the same period, whose structure has been damaged and garden area – currently under water – completely destroyed.
\nTourists from around the world continued to stream in through the gates of the Taj Mahal on Tuesday evening, undeterred by the rising water levels.
\n\u201cIt is crazy to see the water go up so much, but to see the Taj Mahal was beautiful,\u201d said Mathew Kreton, 20, a student from Lucerne, Switzerland.
\nLocal residents were more concerned, fearing the river would eventually invade their homes. \u201cWe have kept our belongings on top so that they do not float away. Along with that we are staying on alert,\u201d said Sundar Dubey, 49, who lives near the temple.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
River flowing alongside Taj Mahal rose to 152 meters on Tuesday, well above warning level for potential danger AGRA A river that runs through the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has risen to lap the compound walls of the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra city, causing concern about damage to the 17th-century white marble […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":344179,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-344167","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n