India: Visitors to one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal, were left disappointed on Sunday as the Mughal-era monument disappeared behind a thick haze of pollutants. Post-Diwali festivities, Agra’s AQI (air quality index) remained in the ‘severe’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
As of Sunday, 2pm, four stations in Agra — Manoharpur, Sanjay Palace, Sector 3B – Avas Vikas Colony and Shahjahan Garden — recorded an AQI between 405 to 427, with PM2.5 levels rising to the ‘severe’ category. Whereas, the Shastripuram station recorded an AQI of 399 (‘very poor’ category).
The city has also witnessed a rise in the number of people suffering from respiratory issues, news agency PTI reported on Saturday and has been enveloped in a dense layer of smog since November 4.
