Key Points:
- Heavy rains in Jaipur caused 200-ft wall collapse at UNESCO World Heritage Site Amer Fort.
- No casualties reported but elephant ride for tourists suspended for safety.
- Archaeology Dept. begins structural inspection and restoration planning.
- Incident raises concerns on climate impact over heritage sites.
- Rains wreak havoc in Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk – NDRF & SDRF deployed.
Jaipur: In a shocking incident, relentless rains in Jaipur led to a 200-foot-long portion of the outer wall of Amer Fort collapsing on Tuesday. The dramatic moment, when the stone wall gave way amid gushing floodwater streams, was captured on video and is now going viral on social media.
Fortunately, there was no loss of life or injury, despite this being one of Jaipur’s most crowded tourist sites. But the collapse has triggered alarm over the safety of heritage monuments during extreme weather.
Tourist Services Affected: Elephant Rides Suspended
As a precaution, the Jaipur administration has announced an immediate suspension of the popular elephant rides at Amer Fort. The path from the elephant stand to the fort has been declared unsafe, as its retaining wall has weakened due to waterlogging and soil erosion.
Tourists have been requested to avoid visiting unsafe sections of the fort until stabilisation work is complete.
Authorities & Archaeological Teams in Action
Upon receiving information, police teams and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) arrived at the site. The damaged area has been cordoned off, and detailed inspection has begun.
Experts say that continuous rainfall softened the soil and destabilized the foundation structure, leading to the collapse. Restoration and reinforcement work is expected to begin once safety assessments are complete.
UNESCO Heritage in Danger?
Amer Fort, built in the 16th century and known for its Rajput-Mughal architecture, is one of India’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Every year, lakhs of Indian and foreign tourists visit this fort. The wall collapse has reignited debate on India’s preparedness to safeguard historic monuments from climate-related damages such as heavy rains, floods, rising moisture, and soil erosion.
Cultural conservationists warn that this may not be a one-off event, urging the state and central heritage bodies to adopt strong pre-monsoon conservation measures.
Rain Havoc Across Rajasthan
The crisis at Amer comes amid widespread flooding and rain damage in other Rajasthan districts, including:
- Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk – all facing waterlogging and damaged infrastructure.
- NDRF & SDRF rescue teams are on ground, evacuating stranded families.
- Local administrations have appealed to residents to stay indoors unless necessary.
Meteorological Department has warned of more heavy showers in eastern Rajasthan till August 26, keeping the flood risk high.
