India’s Taj Mahal to remain unaccessible for tourists after a record surge in COVID-19 cases

Taj Mahal, one of the most attracted tourists’ spot in India, will remain shut keeping in view the high tally of the coronavirus cases in the country, officials said.

According to the details, India has registered a record daily number of coronavirus cases and opened a sprawling treatment centre to fight the pandemic.

The health ministry reported just under 25,000 cases and 613 deaths in 24 hours — the biggest daily spike since the first case.

The jump took India’s total tally to more than 673,000 cases and 19,268 deaths, pulling the country closer to surpassing badly-hit Russia, the world’s third-most infected country.

The jump in infections came as local authorities in northern Agra city said the Taj Mahal would remain closed to visitors even though the national government said it had permission to reopen on Monday.

The mausoleum has been closed since mid-March as part of measures to combat the deadly pandemic.

Other major monuments, including Agra Fort and Sikandra, the home of the tomb of Mughal emperor Akbar the Great, would also stay shut, officials said.

The Taj Mahal and other major Agra monuments are located within highly populated residential areas, many of which are categorized as containment zones.