Floodwater Touches Outer Walls Of Taj Mahal Complex First Time Since 1978; ASI Says It Will Not Enter Monument

New Delhi: The last time water from the Yamuna reached the outer walls of the Taj Mahal was in  1978. It happened again, 45 years later, on Monday night, submerging the garden behind the 17th-century marble mausoleum.

According to officials, the level of Yamuna increased suddenly. The reason was the thousands of cusecs of water released from Okhla and Gokul barrages in Mathura following the recent torrential downpour in many parts of north India, they said.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has assured that the floodwater will not enter the monument, The Indian Express reported, quoting Raj Kumar Patel, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI (Agra) as saying that the ingenious design of the structure rules out such threats. “Water cannot enter the main mausoleum even during high floods. The last time Yamuna floodwater touched the outer walls of the Taj complex was way back in 1978.”

“At present, the Yamuna in Agra is flowing at a level of 498 feet. The low flood level is 495 feet and the medium level is 499 feet. Flood water may cross 500 feet in the coming days. Although there is no threat to the Taj Mahal, the low-lying areas in the vicinity of the structure may get flooded,” another official was quoted as saying.