A man feeds birds on the banks of River Yamuna during a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus near the historic Taj Mahal in Agra. (File Photo | PTI) 
India

Uncertainty clouds Taj Mahal reopening as coronavirus cases surge

The Agra district administration is in a dilemma whether to allow reopening of the Taj Mahal from Monday or wait for some more days to allow the spread of Covid-19 to reach safer limits.

From our online archive

AGRA: The Agra district administration is in a dilemma whether to allow reopening of the Taj Mahal from Monday or wait for some more days to allow the spread of Covid-19 to reach safer limits.

The Union Ministry of Culture in a directive last week announced reopening of ASI protected properties from July 6, with SOPs and safeguards in place. The decision to reopen the Taj Mahal is expected to be taken by the district administration later in the evening.

But the situation in Agra is still alarming, feels experts. The number of containment zones has gone up to 68. With 15 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, the tally of Covid-19 in the city is now 1,282. The number of discharged is 1,053, while the death toll is 90. Health department officials said the recovery rate was 82.04 per cent.

In neighbouring Mathura district, there were 16 fresh cases, while in Kasganj, 33 new cases has alarmed the district officials.

Agra district officials said the home to home survey for health status of family members has already started, with 1,722 teams put on the job. The random survey has to be completed within 10 days.

Trump to host Xi for White House state dinner on Sept 24, calls Iran conflict 'small potatoes'

'Very distressing to observe': SC judge on Delhi Police crackdown at Jantar Mantar protest

Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who bragged about cracking man's skull, detained after CJP protest

India in touch with Ukraine and Russia, seeks ideas to help end war: EAM Jaishankar in Warsaw

Ukraine's Zelenskyy offers Russia truce while Trump envoys visit Moscow, Kyiv