Agra/Lucknow, Nov 29 : In the wake of Mumbai terror attacks, security has been beefed up in Agra.

The city is famous for its ‘Taj Mahal’, a monument built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in commemoration of for his wife Mumtaz. It draws maximum tourist footfalls and it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The Taj Mahal is thronged by the national and the international tourists round the year.

Cautious after the atrocious attacks that killed more than 150 people, the security forces in the city have deployed special teams to keep a close vigil and have also strengthened the barricades near the monument.

Agra, Nov 26 : Notwithstanding last season''s bad experience due to glut in potatoes that has pushed down prices in markets, farmers of Agra region in Uttar Pradesh cultivate potatoes again saying that they have no other option due to soil conditions.

Farmers said that their options to shift to other cash crops are primarily limited by scarcity of irrigation facilities and low water table in the region. They said that potato is a less water intensive crop and they have to live with it to sustain their livelihood.

Agra, Nov 24 : The ongoing global recession is taking its toll on Agra’s tourism industry.

There has been a marked decrease in the numbers of foreigners visiting the Taj Mahal this season.

Tour operators in India have already reported a 20 to 30 per cent drop in the number of tourists this year.

The global financial meltdown has hit the pockets of tourists, some of whom are wary of splurging on vacations. For those traveling to India, the budget is of paramount concern.

Agra, Oct. 17 : Visiting the Taj Mahal, the magnificent monument of love in Agra, charms people from all over the world. That fascination doubles when an opportunity is provided to view the white marble monument under moonlight.

About 25 years ago, during Sharad Purnima, which occurs exactly a fortnight before Diwali, the festival of lights, people in thousands would converge to watch the marble wonder glowing under natural moonlight. It looks beguiling.

Sadly now, the number of people now converging to view this spectacle has reduced drastically. This time on Sharad Purnima only 260 visitors watched the Taj Mahal under moonlight.

The police personnel and the district officials have launched a massive effort to rescue a two year boy, Sonu who fell into the 150 ft deep borewell around 10 am on Thursday while playing near his house in Tohra village near Shamsabad town, 26 km from Agra. 

In order to get to the boy, a parallel well was dug near the borewell by the authorities. However, they fear that since there was a pond near the site, the level of the water in the borewell could increase.

Speaking on this, Anil Kumar, district magistrate, Agra said, “We are trying our level best to rescue the child and machines are being brought to dig up a parallel hole.”

Lahara village (UP), Oct 10: Rescuers are battling hard to save a child who fell in a deep narrow well in a village about
45 kilometers from Agra.

Two-year-old Sonu was playing near the 150 feet deep borewell, which was left uncovered, when he fell inside.

The rescue operation was in full swing till late in the night to save Sonu, who is trapped at a depth of around 70 feet.