Hit by dust storms, Jama Masjid structures broken, need urgent intervention of consultants: Shahi Imam.
The structures of the historic Jama Masjid in previous Delhi have suffered harm in two dust storms inside every week’s time and thus, need “immediate intervention” of heritage consultants, the Shahi Imam of the celebrated mosque mentioned on Sunday.
The Seventeenth-century architectural icon was constructed within the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan for the primary metropolis of Shahjehabad, which at the moment falls within the Walled City, and is a significant vacationer attraction within the nationwide capital.
“Over a week ago, the southern minaret of the grand mosque was damaged by a dust storm and rain, and a big block of stone had fallen off it. Luckily, no one was injured in the incident. But, due to this, other stones around it have also become loose,” the Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari mentioned.
On June 4, an enormous chunk of the pink standstone tower had fallen off after struggling harm within the huge dust storm and rains that had hit Delhi-NCR.
The fallen piece was about two-metre lengthy, 12-18 inches extensive and about 2.5-inch thick. Other small items had additionally fallen together with it, he mentioned.
“The day before yesterday, another dust storm hit Delhi and the minaret was further damaged. A similar piece of big stone now precariously hangs off the tower, and it can fall any time,” the Shahi Imam mentioned, including different elements of the mosque have additionally been affected by the dust storm.
Repairs of the towering mosque have been carried out occasionally by the Arachaeological Survey of India (ASI) since 1956 as a particular case, he mentioned.
“But after the damage suffered in the two dust storms, the structures of the Jama Masjid need urgent repair work and immediate intervention of heritage experts and engineers to avoid any further damage or mishap,” Bukhari advised PTI.
He additionally shared {that a} couple of years in the past, an enormous portion of stone had fallen off a smaller tower close to Gate No.3 of the mosque, however luckily, nobody was harm in that incident too.
The Mughal-era mosque, referred in previous literature additionally as ‘Masjid-i-Jahanuma’ (the mosque commanding a view of the world), was constructed because the principal mosque of town by Shah Jehan, and its structure and complex design has fascinated constructing consultants and the layman alike.
After the autumn of the Mughal Empire in 1857, the British forces took over the world publish the Sepoy Mutiny, and a big quantity of structures across the imposing mosque had been demolished, in response to historians.
The historic mosque within the British-era got here beneath the Sunni Majlis-e-Auqaf of Delhi, which grew to become the Delhi Waqf Board within the Nineteen Fifties, Bukhari mentioned.
The Jama Masjid sees an enormous gathering on Fridays for ‘jumma’ prayers, however on account of restrictions imposed within the wake of the Covid pandemic, individuals are not allowed to go to.
The Shahi Imam mentioned the items of sandstones used within the mosque had been clipped collectively utilizing iron plates within the Mughal-era and these have develop into skinny and are carrying off with time.
“In past repair works, many iron strips were replaced with steel plates, which are stronger and don’t corrode,” he added.
On June 6, the Shahi Imam had despatched a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to instruct the ASI to hold out restore works on the mosque.
In the letter, Bukhari had mentioned the internationally famend mosque is in dire need of care.
He together with the letter had additionally despatched pictures of the fallen stones, the harm they’ve induced and the dilapidated state of the minaret.
“Many stones of the building are in a state of dilapidation and often keep falling off, ” the letter mentioned.
He requested the prime minister to instruct the ASI to examine the monument, significantly the 2 minarets, and start its vital repairs.
“Due to falling of these stones, the support of the other stones around them has gone and they have become weakened and thus warrant immediate repairs to avoid any grave mishap,” Bukhari mentioned.
Asked, if he has obtained any response from the ASI, he mentioned, “Not, so far”.
