The strong winds and heavy rainfall observed in certain parts of India on Wednesday brought down a 12-feet minaret of the Taj Mahal. This minaret was located at the entry gate of the monument and used to be referred to as Darwaza-e-Rauza. Reportedly the structure collapsed due to the strong winds speeding at more than 100 km/hr.
The strong winds brought down the minaret, shattering the dome into several pieces. Luckily there were no causalities reported at the spot. Darwaza-e-Rauza is the royal entrance of the monuments that give the very first view of the monument built in the 17th Century. Reportedly, the 40-minute long rainfall also caused harm to a small white dome.
Courtesy: India Today
As per Ankit Namdev, a conservation assistant with Archeological Survey of India (ASI), apart from the northwest pillar on top of the gate, a stone flower vase, and a brass filial were damaged in the storm. The royal gate that leads to the Mughal style garden symbolizes Paradise.
#heavyrain causes pillar inside #TajMahal premises to collapse, no casualties reported
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— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) April 11, 2018
Not just the monument, the thunderstorm, and the rains also claimed lives of 35 people in the state. The bad weather also damaged 80% crops in the fields and uprooted a lot of power poles and trees.
Taj Mahal is a prized possession for India that once used to be one of the 7 wonders of the world. It’s also a World Heritage site and one of the most visited places in India by tourists all over the world. Sadly, in the recent past, the monument has lost its sheen and ASI had stated in a survey that the rising level of pollution in Agra has affected the beauty of the structure.
