358-year-old 'Taj Mahal' to collapse within five years

New Delhi, Oct 5: The Taj Mahal will collapse in less than five years unless the Government of India act to repair its rotting wooden foundation. According to campaigners and politicians, the foundation of the tomb has become brittle and are disintegrating.

The 358-year-old historic white domed mausoleum is India's most popular tourist attraction, bringing four million visitors an year to Agra. Last year some cracks appeared at parts of the tomb following which the four minarets surrounded the mausoleum are leaning.

The architectural wonder was built by Shah Jahan in 1631, who was grief-stricken over the death of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal during the birth of their 14th child Gauhara Begam.

Environmentalists and historians say that time is running out to prevent a looming crisis to Taj Mahal.

"If the crisis is not tackled on a war-footing, the Taj Mahal will cave in between two and five years," the Daily Mail of London quoted Ramshankar Katheria, the MP for Agra who is leading the campaign.

"The Taj Mahal is losing its galmour and if this remain same then the minarets may also collapse as the wooden foundation beneath the wells is rotting due to lack of water," Katheria added.

Visitors were not being allowed to enter the foundations of Taj Mahal by the authorities for the last three decades. But the govt of India is still not making any effort to save the architectural wonder.

OneIndia News