NEW DELHI, INDIA (TEH) – In an alarming natural development, the Yamuna River’s swelling waters, bloated by unprecedented monsoon rains, are encroaching upon the compound of the globally revered Taj Mahal, sparking fears for the iconic 17th-century monument crafted out of pristine white marble.
The water levels of the Yamuna, coursing through the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, have surged exponentially due to extraordinary rainfall in the region, according to the Times of India. Uttar Pradesh alone has seen an immense 108% increase in normal rainfall volume since the start of the monsoon season on June 1.
Official reports from the Central Water Commission (CWC) of India indicate that the Yamuna’s segment flowing adjacently to the Taj Mahal escalated to an alarming height of 152 meters (499 feet) on Tuesday evening. This measurement surges beyond the critical warning level of 151.4 meters, precariously close to the hazardously dangerous mark of 152.4 meters.
Historical records, according to various local news outlets, suggest that it was 45 years ago, back in 1978, when the river’s swirling waters last touched the boundaries of the grand edifice. This monument was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a timeless symbol of his profound love for his wife, Queen Mumtaz Mahal. In that record-breaking year, the CWC data shows that the flood level spiked to an unprecedented 154.76 meters.
Stirring visuals from the scene on Tuesday depicted the Taj Mahal’s crimson sandstone boundary wall embraced by murky waters, with the magnificent mausoleum itself towering in the background, its surreal beauty unscathed by the swelling river.
Despite the unsettling scenario, officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) – the institution entrusted with the preservation of the Taj Mahal among numerous other historic sites across India – have sought to quell anxiety. They maintain there is “no serious concern” about the monument’s integrity at the moment.
In Agra, river Yamuna is flowing at 151.98M, above the warning level of 151.4M. It is just cms away from the danger level of 152.4 and is expected to rise further. The ASI said that there is no threat to the UNESCO World Heritage site, more here – https://t.co/SxL4SuhHmI
— Priyanshi Sharma (@Priyanshi50) July 18, 2023
Raj Kumar Patel, the Superintendent Archaeologist with the ASI, stated that a reassessment of the situation would be required “if it rains more, or the water stays this high for some days.”
Regrettably, several nearby heritage sites and gardens that lie closer to the Yamuna’s embankments have already “been submerged” and sustained significant damage, according to Patel.
Among the affected landmarks is the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, affectionately known as the “baby Taj,” dating back to the 1600s. Also adversely impacted is Mehtab Bagh, a contemporaneous garden complex whose infrastructure has been damaged, and its garden area – now under water – utterly decimated.
