Taj Mahal temporarily shut, tourists evacuated over bomb scare; search underway

Agra: Tourists visit the historic Taj Mahal, on Valentines Day, in Agra, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. (PTI Photo)(PTI02_14_2021_000152B) (PTI)
Agra: Tourists visit the historic Taj Mahal, on Valentines Day, in Agra, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. (PTI Photo)(PTI02_14_2021_000152B) (PTI)
 1 min read . Updated: 04 Mar 2021, 11:31 AM IST Edited By Meghna Sen

The Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh's Agra was shut temporarily and tourists were evacuated after a bomb scare call triggered panic on Thursday morning.

The Uttar Pradesh Police received a call about some explosive device placed at the iconic 17th-century monument. The call was reportedly made to the UP police helpline.

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An unidentified person called the 112 emergency response number of the UP police at around 9 am and claimed that a bomb was kept inside the monument that is conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and protected by armed personnel of the CISF, according to a PTI report.

Security agencies, including the UP Police and CISF, which are deployed there, are conducting anti-sabotage checks following the bomb threat.

"This morning, an unknown person called on UP 112 and said there will be a bomb blast at the Taj Mahal. Immediately, as per SOP, our bomb squad and other teams conducted a thorough search of the premises. So far, our field units haven't given any information of such an item being found," A Satish Ganesh, Inspector General, Agra, has said.

"I'd like to assure everyone that 99%, it is a hoax call. But we are following the drill."

"Nothing suspicious has been found and the checks are almost done," a senior CISF officer said in Delhi.

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The bomb threat call has been traced to Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, another officer said.

As a precautionary measure, tourists present inside the historic monument were immediately evacuated a little after 11 am.

In the past too, an unidentified caller had said there was a bomb at the Taj Mahal. Authorities searched thoroughly for the bomb but it later turned out to be a hoax.

The Taj Mahal was reopened for tourists in September last year with strict Covid-19 safety guidelines after being shut for tourists for more than six months since 17 March due to the pandemic.

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