Yamuna Flood: Four Decades On, River Water Touches the Taj Mahal's Walls

NEW DELHI: The River Yamuna, which has already released its fury on Delhi's low-lying neighbourhoods, has now submerged parts of Agra in Uttar Pradesh. The Taj Mahal's outside walls are now submerged in the raging river, a scene that hasn't been witnessed in forty years. The water level has risen over the danger mark. According to the local authorities, the Yamuna river has risen to 499.1 feet and may go even higher. This river in Agra is 495 feet below the flood stage. Here, the low flood level is 499 feet, while the maximum flood level is 508 feet. The Taj Mahal, a World Heritage landmark, is safe, according to the ASI, which is in charge of protecting it. The Dussehra Ghat next to the Taj Mahal and the exterior portions of Itimad-ud-Daula's mausoleum are now submerged.

Another popular tourist attraction in Mehtab Bagh, the Taj View Point, has been engulfed by the river and is no longer accessible to visitors because to waterlogging. Affected by the inflow of water from the drains is the Yamuna Kinara Road, which goes to the Taj Mahal. Yamuna Kinara Road in Agra had waterlogged spots due to drain backflow, which forced moving vehicles to navigate them. There was also standing water inside the Tajganj crematorium, where the majority of the city's deceased are sent for cremation.

The Shri Kailash Temple, the Balkeshwar Ghat steps, and the wall of the Itmad-ud-daulah monument, a mausoleum from the Mughal Empire, have all been put in risk by the rising water level. Many residents of the river's banks were compelled to leave and seek safety elsewhere.

Due to the 1,24,302 cusec of water discharged from the Gokul Barrage in Mathura, where all seven gates had been opened, according to official sources, the water level was on the rise. Okhla Barrage water delivery is presently trending at 1,06,473 cusec per second.

In Uttar Pradesh's Pinahat town, the Chambal River—another river that flows through a rural section of the Agra district—was at a height of 113.90 metres. The high flood level in Chambal is at 137.60 metres, the danger level is at 130 metres, and the warning level is at 127 metres.

The district administration has increased its response efforts and flood-like emergency readiness. Navneet Chahal, the district magistrate, examined the susceptible locations and gave the authorities instructions on how to make the necessary preparations. Boatmen and divers have been put on notice, according to ADM (Finance and Revenue) Yashvardhan Srivastav, and postings have been established.

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