Taj Mahal suffers damages as thunderstorm lashes Agra

A thunderstorm in Agra on Friday night damaged the marble and red sandstone railings and the wooden main gate of Taj Mahal. The storm also damaged the main wooden main gate of the monument. `There has been damage to the Taj Mahal’s premises due to rains and thunderstorm. Part of the marble railing at the back of the main mausoleum towards river Yamuna fell. It is not the first time that Taj has faced damages due to thunderstorms. On April 11 and May 2, 2018, there were similar damages because of thunderstorms. A red sandstone railing fell on the floor. About ten trees on Taj Mahal premises also toppled,`said Ankit Namdev, the Archaeology Survey of India’s Conservation Assistant at the Taj Mahal.The wind speed was assessed at 124 kilometers per hour and brought down trees and walls. Many cars were damaged as walls and trees fell on them. About 20 houses were damaged and a six year old girl died under the debris.The thunderstorm also damaged crops. In rural areas it was a hailstorm which caused damages.