Image copyright Raju Tomar/HT PHOTO Image caption One of the destroyed minarets was located at the royal gate to the Taj Mahal

A storm has damaged two minarets located at different entry gates of the iconic Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra.

Officials told the BBC that winds blowing at 130kmh (80mph) caused the 12ft (4m) pillars to collapse.

The four longer minarets that surround the main structure remain intact.

The 17th Century mausoleum attracts about 12,000 visitors a day and is one of the world's most popular tourist attractions.

One of the destroyed minarets was located at the royal gate where tourists often get their first glimpse of the monument.

The other was located at the southern gate.

Authorities said that work had begun to restore the damaged structures.

Image copyright Aqeel Siddiqui Image caption One of the minarets damaged in the storm

Image copyright Aqeel Siddiqui Image caption No one was injured by the falling pillars

India's official recorded history says that Mughal ruler Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his queen, Mumtaj Mahal.

The monument's complex structure of white marble domes and minarets inlaid with semi-precious stones and carvings is considered the finest example of Mughal art in India

But it has suffered damage due to pollution and construction activity in recent years.

The Archaeological Survey of India, the custodian of the country's monuments, said in January that the Taj Mahal was at risk of losing its sheen and structure due to increased pollution levels in Agra.</s>Tourists walk past the debris after a powerful storm Wednesday night toppled two minarets at the entry gates of the Taj Mahal on Thursday. (Photo: AP )

Lucknow: Stone minarets of the south and royal gates of the Taj Mahal were damaged in a freak storm that lashed Agra on Wednesday night. One of the minarets at the south gate fell off and one of the small domes was also hit. There was no official comment from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that is responsible for the maintenance of the Taj Mahal.

According to reports, a 12-foot minaret with a metal finial, which is part of the main gate, called Darwaza-e-Rauza, was blown away by high-speed winds. It is from this royal gate that tourists get their first view of the 17th century monument of love.

Darwaza-a-Rauza, the main gateway, is a structure built of marble and strongly reminiscent of Mughal architecture. Its arches are marked by calligraphy. Earlier in 2016, when one of the minarets of Taj Mahal was reportedly damaged, the Archaeological Survey of India had blamed monkeys. Meanwhile, Wednesday’s storm caused considerable damage to the city.</s>LUCKNOW — A powerful storm toppled two minarets at the entry gates of the famed Taj Mahal in northern India, but no damage was done to the white marble main building, an official said April 12.

Bhubanesh Kumar, an official of the Archaeological Survey of India, said the damage was minor and will be repaired by experts.

He said winds during the storm April 11 night reached 130 kilometers (80 miles) per hour.

One of the damaged minarets was a 3-meter (12-foot) pillar at the main gate. The other was a smaller pillar at the southern gate used by visitors to reach the monument.

The 17th century Taj Mahal attracts between 7 million and 8 million visitors a year. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is in Agra, 210 kilometers (130 miles) south of New Delhi.</s>An official says a powerful storm has toppled two minarets at the entry gates of the Taj Mahal in northern India, but no damage was done to the white marble monument.

An official of the Archaeological Survey of India, Bhubanesh Kumar, said Thursday the damage was minor and will be repaired by experts.

He said winds during the storm Wednesday night reached 130 kilometers (80 miles) per hour.

One of the damaged minarets was a 3-meter (12-foot) metal pillar at the main gate. The other was a smaller pillar at the southern gate used by visitors to reach the monument.

The 17th century Taj Mahal attracts more than 7 million visitors a year. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.</s>A heavy storm has knocked down two decorative stone minarets at the entrance to the Taj Mahal complex, without causing any damage to the main monument, an official told EFE Thursday.

A tall pillar at the entry to the Taj Mahal collapsed on Wednesday night together with another minaret at the southern entry gate of the complex, due to strong winds, Kamei Athoilu Kabui, deputy superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India of Agra, told EFE.</s>A storm has damaged two minarets located at different entry gates of the iconic Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra.

Officials told the BBC that winds blowing at 130kmh (80mph) caused the 12ft minarets to collapse on Wednesday.

The four longer minarets that surround the main structure are intact.

The 17th Century mausoleum attracts about 12,000 visitors a day and is one of the world's most popular tourist attractions.

One of the destroyed minarets was located at the royal gate from where tourists often get their first glimpse of the monument.

The other was located at the southern gate.

Authorities added that work had begun to restore the damaged structures.

India's official recorded history says that Mughal ruler Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his queen, Mumtaj Mahal.

The monument's complex structure of white marble domes and minarets inlaid with semi-precious stones and carvings is considered the finest example of Mughal art in India

But it has suffered damage due to pollution and construction activity in recent years.

The Archaeological Survey of India, the custodian of the country's monuments, said in January that the Taj Mahal was at risk of losing its sheen and structure due to increased pollution levels in Agra.</s>LUCKNOW, India -- A powerful storm toppled two minarets at the entry gates of the famed Taj Mahal in northern India. Bhubanesh Kumar, an official of the Archaeological Survey of India, said winds during the storm Wednesday night reached 130 kilometers -- 80 miles -- per hour.

One of the damaged minarets was a 3-meter (12-foot) pillar at the main gate. The other was a smaller pillar at the southern gate used by visitors to reach the monument.

Kumar said the damage was minor and will be repaired by experts. No damage was done to the white marble main building.

The 17th century Taj Mahal, located in Agra, south of New Delhi, attracts between 7 million and 8 million visitors a year. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

The monument's complex structure of white marble domes and minarets is considered the finest example of Mughal art in India, but it has suffered damage in recent years due to pollution and construction. The Archaeological Survey of India said earlier this year the Taj Mahal was at risk of losing its sheen and structure due to heightened pollution levels in Agra, the BBC reports.</s>Heavy storm and rainfall damaged the stone minarets on the south and royal gates of the Taj Mahal on Wednesday. The 12 feet metal pillar at the entry gate which is known as Darwaza-e-Rauza, collapsed as winds with velocity of over 130 km per hour swept the city.

The incident happened around 7:30 pm on Thursday. The pillar fell due to rain and no casualties have been reported as of now, according to ANI.

Darwaza-i-rauza is one of the components of the monument complex, which includes the mausoleum, the mosque and the guest pavilion. The first sight of the Taj Mahal is seen from this gate only. Being called as the ‘Great Gate’, it is also the gateway to the gardens which, symbolically, represents Paradise.

Rain lashed Agra and other cities of Uttar Pradesh including Kanpur, Mathura, Kannauj, Farukkhabad, Etawah and Mainpuri on Wednesday for nearly 30 minutes which claimed three lives in Mathura district. The incident happened after a tin roof of their one-room house collapsed.

Also, a large amount of crop is wasted when the harvest is dampened by the rain, IANS quoted an official as saying. The potato harvest, which is already hit by poor marketing and bad pricing, is also set to take a beating by the rain, he added.

Power outages have also been reported owing to the strong winds blowing across many areas. The weatherman informed that there is a low-pressure depression in some parts of the state which is leading to the rains.

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App</s>A violent storm has destroyed two ancient pillars at the entryways to the Taj Mahal, an official said Thursday, underscoring the fragility of the centuries-old marble monument to love.

Agra (India) - A violent storm has destroyed two ancient pillars at the entryways to the Taj Mahal, an official said Thursday, underscoring the fragility of the centuries-old marble monument to love.

The four-metre high sandstone minarets topped by ornate spires were left in chunks after being felled by strong winds late Wednesday.

"Two decorative pillars collapsed last night amid high-velocity winds. One of the pillars stood at the royal gate, and the other at the southern gate," an official from the Archaeological Survey of India told AFP.

None of the four white marble minarets surrounding the Taj -- or the spectacular shimmering mausoleum itself -- were damaged in the storm, authorities said.

Tourists often get their first glimpse of the Taj -- a UNESCO world heritage site -- through the royal gate, a grand fortress-like entrance made largely of red sandstone. It was flanked by two imposing minarets before the storm brought one crashing down.

Footage showed the stone pillars lying in large broken pieces, the distinct spire still intact but separated cleanly from the shaft. Nobody was injured by the falling steeples, authorities said.

Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth in 1631.

The Taj -- one of the world's most popular tourist attractions -- is beset by problems from air pollution yellowing the marble to insects leaving green stains on its rear wall.

Efforts to restore its grandeur have dragged into a fourth year, with scaffolding marring the view for the 10,000-plus tourists that visit the 17th-century mausoleum every day.

Work is yet to begin on its main dome, with authorities concerned about how to proceed with handling the fragile centrepiece.

The Taj has attracted world leaders and royalty, including former US President Bill Clinton. Diana, the late British princess, was famously photographed alone on a marble seat there in 1992.</s>In a freak storm which saw winds with velocity of over 130 km per hour sweeping through Agra on Wednesday evening, stone minarets on the south and royal gates of the Taj Mahal were damaged.According to sources, the incident occurred around 7.30pm when one of the minarets of the south gate fell off and one of the small white domes was hit too.No official of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was available for comment despite several attempts.A 12-foot minaret with a metal finial, which is part of the main gate, also called Darwaza-e-rauza, was blown away by high-speed winds. It is from this royal gate that tourists get their first view of the 17th century Mughal-era monument.In 2016, too, one of the minarets of Taj Mahal was reportedly damaged. While reports had suggested that the minarets might have been affected during cleaning work which was underway, the ASI had then blamed monkeys for weakening it.Several electricity poles and trees were also uprooted in the storm which killed four in Mathura and one in Bijnor. Three children and a 70-yearold woman were killed in two separate incidents in the storm that was accompanied by heavy hailstones.
Strong winds from a storm cause two of the Taj Mahal's minarets to collapse. No injuries are reported (BBC)