Chandelier crashes at Taj Mahal, ASI orders probe

A 60 kg British-era copper chandelier at the main entrance of 17th century Taj Mahal crashed down recently, prompting the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to initiate a probe into the matter.

A 60-kg British-era copper chandelier at the main entrance of 17th century Taj Mahal 
crashed down recently, prompting the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 
to initiate a probe into the matter [Credit: AP]

The six-foot high and four-foot wide chandelier, gifted by Lord Curzon and installed at the Royal Gate of Taj Mahal in 1905, fell down on Wednesday, sources said.

A probe under ASI�s superintending archaeologist Bhuvan Vikram has been initiated into the matter, they said.

Though there was no official word as to what caused the chandelier to fall, the sources said it probably came down due to �aging and wear and tear�.

The copper chandelier gifted to the Taj Mahal by Lord Curzon as viceroy had 
been hanging at the Royal Gate (picture above), one of the four entrances
 to the monument [Credit: The Telegraph/India]

�Luckily, there was no one around or else it would have resulted in a major tragedy,� a tourist guide Ved Gautam said.

On Thursday, Agra ASI chief Bhuvan Vikram Singh had said that the decision to fix the chandelier would be taken only after carefully examining its structure and its present state.

Meanwhile, some tourist guides have accused the ASI officials of �gross negligence� and questioned their expertise in handling the monument�s artefacts.

Source: Press Trust of India [August 22, 2015]