Amidst the ongoing struggle with air pollution in Northern India, Agra, home to the iconic Taj Mahal, found itself shrouded in a dense blanket of smog on Monday. The 17th-century marvel, which draws countless tourists from around the world, was barely discernible beneath the thick smog, as videos circulated online depicting the grim scene, ANI reported.
Frustration was evident among tourists, with one individual lamenting, "We have been waiting for an hour, but nothing can be seen," according to ANI. Regrettably, this is not the first instance of the Taj Mahal, a marvel of Mughal architecture and a world wonder, disappearing beneath a veil of smog. Similar visuals of the monument engulfed by smog made rounds on social media in 2021.
In Agra, the air quality index (AQI) at around 11 am was measured at 171, categorizing it as "moderate" pollution. However, the PM2.5 concentration in Agra on Monday morning soared to a startling 6.5 times above the recommended limit outlined in the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality guidelines.
