The Yamuna has once again swelled to the walls of the Taj Mahal, with water levels rising beyond the danger mark in Agra following heavy rainfall across the lower Himalayan belt.
On Sunday, officials confirmed that the rising river has also inundated homes along the banks, leaving residents struggling to protect their belongings. The Yamuna’s surge comes in the wake of persistent downpours in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, both of which feed the river system.
Local historian Raj Kishore Raje observed that the river’s present levels mirror those of 2023 when the Yamuna last rose to the Taj’s walls. “The Yamuna has high water levels similar to those in 2023, and has reached the Taj Mahal's wall like last time,” he said. Raje emphasised that the monument itself remained unharmed. “There is no damage to the monument as its construction is designed to withstand such water levels,” he added.
The Mughal-era mausoleum, built on a raised plinth beside the river, has historically faced the fury of the Yamuna, yet its foundations have endured. However, the visual of floodwaters lapping at its walls has raised concerns once again.
Also read: NDRF teams deployed as more areas get submerged in Yamuna floods
The district administration has activated emergency measures to monitor the situation. A control room has been set up, with officials on round-the-clock watch to prevent any escalation.
The river’s fury is not confined to Agra alone. In Delhi, the Yamuna has repeatedly spilled over its embankments this monsoon, disrupting traffic, displacing families, and forcing authorities to undertake relief and evacuation drives. The rising waters have also strained floodplains in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, fuelling anxiety across vulnerable riverbank settlements.
Agra, where the Taj Mahal is both a heritage site and a symbol of India’s global image, has been particularly watchful. The city’s fragile balance between heritage preservation and disaster management is once again under the spotlight as the Yamuna rises against the monument’s gleaming white walls.
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