Taj Mahal, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world has been in the news for various reasons- be it turning green due to insect poop, or simply having a debate on who it does or does not belong to.
However, last night, Taj Mahal witnessed a rather unfortunate incident. A minaret at the entry gate crashed as heavy rain and high winds lashed Agra. The minaret, about 12-feet long was a metal pillar at the entry gate, referred to as Darwaza-e-Rauza, collapsed as wind speed during the thunderstorm crossed 100 km per hour.
ANI
According to a report by NDTV, the pillar fell just past midnight on Thursday, the minaret and dome on it broke into several pieces. The Archeological Society of India (ASI), which maintains the iconic heritage site, had appealed in the Supreme Court for sorting out the ownership of the Taj Mahal, against the Waqf board's decision to declare the Taj as its property.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday has asked the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board, to show documents signed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, to prove that it owns the Taj Mahal. The ASI told the top court that Taj Mahal was taken over by the British and since Independence, the society has been maintaining the Taj Mahal.
The Uttar Pradesh government recently informed the top court that it was working on the vision document which would help in the protection and preservation of the 17th century mausoleum. It sought four weeks time from a bench of justices to finish work on the vision document.
In January, the ASI, after a study said the Taj has been losing its sheen and the structure is suffering due to increased pollution levels in Agra. Experts said the abrasive nature of the particulate matter in the air is damaging the surfaces of the Taj.
ANI
The ASI, in October 2017, temporarily stopped restoration work at the TaJ Mahal and sought help from engineers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Some experts are of the opinion that repeated mud packs to clean the white marble may weaken the structure.