Meerut: Water of the swollen Yamuna reached the outer walls of the Taj Mahal complex in Agra Monday night, submerging the garden behind the 17th-century marble mausoleum, for the first time since 1978.
Officials said the level of the Yamuna increased suddenly owing to thousands of cusecs of water being released from Okhla and Gokul barrages in Mathura following the recent torrential downpour in many parts of north India.
However, officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) assured that the floodwater will not enter the monument.
“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,” said Raj Kumar Patel, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI (Agra).
“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,” said another official.
Floodwater has reached the Dussehra riverbank and the Mehtab Bagh in Agra and there is apprehension that around 40 nearby villages may soon get flooded. Lohia Nagar, Tanishq, Rajshree, and Dayalbagh localities in Agra city have also got flooded.
Floodwater has also entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Kailash Mahadev temple in the Sikandra locality of Agra.
“We do not see any respite from the flood at least for one week and that is why we have decided to postpone the Sawan fare which was scheduled to be held on July 24. The fare will now be held on August 21,” said Gaurav Giri, the Mahant of the Kailash Mahadev temple.
Around 350 bighas of standing crops have been submerged in Agra alone. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have reached Agra to start rescue operations.
Agencies

KR Desk