Yamuna reaches iconic Taj Mahal walls after 45 years, floods garden

The recent surge in the Yamuna river's water level due to heavy rains has led to serious consequences for Agra's iconic Taj Mahal and surrounding areas. As per a ToI report, the rising Yamuna river waters touched the walls of the Taj Mahal on Monday, submerging a garden located behind the majestic monument, a sight unseen for 45 years. The last time the Yamuna approached the back wall of the Taj Mahal was during the floods of 1978. The water level surpassed the 'low-flood level' at 495 ft, reaching the 'low-flood level' of 497.9 feet.

As per the report, while the situation has raised alarms about the safety of other historical monuments like Rambagh, Mehtab Bagh, Zohra Bagh, Kala Gumbad, and Chini ka Rauza, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) reassured that these sites has not suffered any damage so far. However, the adjacent Dussehra Ghat and Itimad-ud-Daula's tomb experienced flooding.


The ASI officials attributed the resilience of the Taj Mahal to its ingenious design, emphasizing that the main mausoleum was created to withstand flooding. Prince Vajpayee, a conservation assistant at ASI, explained that the monument was meticulously planned to ensure water could not enter the main structure, even during high floods.

During that extreme flooding incident in 1978, the water level rose to 508 ft, surpassing the high-flood level in Agra, and managed to enter 22 rooms in the monument's basement, leaving behind silt. Since then, ASI took measures to prevent such occurrences by removing the wooden doors through which water had entered and constructing walls at the entrances from Basai and Dussehra ghats.

In the wake of the flood, rescue operations were launched by teams from NDRF, police, and local administration, evacuating over 500 people from 50 villages and 20 urban areas near the Yamuna, ensuring their safety in safer locations. Mathura district also experienced a rise in the Yamuna's water level, reaching 167.28 m, above the danger mark of 166 m.

Unfortunately, the deluge caused extensive damage to agricultural lands, submerging over 500 bighas of land in Agra and Mathura districts. Around 100 villages and urban localities were left without power for two days, and residents in flood-affected areas of Mathura faced shortages of ration and drinking water.

While the historic Taj Mahal remains resilient against the rising river, the situation in the region continues to be critical, and efforts are underway to aid affected communities and mitigate further damage.