Taj Mahal faces structural threat: Multiple cracks, damage appear on walls, floors
Heavy rainfall in Agra over the past week has caused multiple cracks and damage to the Taj Mahal's walls and floors.
PTC News Desk: Heavy rainfall in Agra over the past week has caused multiple cracks and damage to the Taj Mahal's walls and floors.
"The doors around the main dome are etched with Quranic verses in Arabic, some of which have worn away. Semi-precious stones inlaid in the walls using the complex method of pietra dura are also suffering from the ravages of time," Shakeel Chauhan, national general secretary of the Tourist Guide Federation of India, said.
According to Chauhan, stones from the floor in front of the royal mosque have chipped off, and "damages can be seen on parts of the main mausoleum and walls of the iconic dome."
However, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) claims that there are "no serious structural issues" with the UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to the report.
"Funds spent on Taj Mahal maintenance are regularly audited. So far, no concerns have been raised in these audits," the ASI stated.
On September 19, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav questioned the Taj Mahal's maintenance and lambasted the Yogi Adityanath government, claiming it should be a "living and active" example rather than a "monument".
Yadav, who shared a viral video of a plant sprouting from the Taj Mahal's dome, stated that the monument may develop cracks due to the roots.
"The BJP government and its dormant departments have completely failed to maintain the Taj Mahal, the wonder that attracts tourists from all over the world," he posted on X.
The Taj's main dome recently had water seepage as a result of ongoing rains, even though ASI officials stated that the arched roof had not been damaged.