Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Two tourists, including an 83-year-old visitor from Brazil, were bitten by monkeys at the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday morning, the latest in a series of such incidents involving visitors at the iconic monument.
The two incidents took place at around 8 am. The tourists were identified as 83-year-old Brazilian visitor Anthony Penn and another tourist from West Bengal.
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After being bitten, both tourists were taken to the dispensary near the Taj Mahal, where they received first aid. They were later sent to the district hospital for further treatment.
MONKEY ATTACKS ON TOURISTS CONTINUE
Monkey attacks on tourists at the Taj Mahal are not new. Over the past two months, several visitors, including foreign tourists, women and children, have been attacked and bitten by monkeys at different locations around the monument.
On July 26, South Korean tourist Kim Mihe was bitten on her hand by a monkey near the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal. Her hand started bleeding following the attack. She was given treatment at a primary health centre, following which an ambulance was called to take her to hospital. However, the ambulance was delayed and she was eventually taken to the hospital in a battery-operated car.
Following the incident, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) wrote to the Chief Medical Officer regarding the ambulance arrangements.
On August 12, Mohammad Ali, who had travelled from Karnataka, was bitten on the leg by a monkey near the western gate. He was given first aid before being sent to hospital.
On August 30, six-year-old Ayansh from Haryana was attacked by a monkey near the Mehman Khana. The monkey bit the child on his hand, following which he was taken to the district hospital.
On September 3, Delhi tourist Deepika Goyal was attacked from behind by a monkey near the mosque at the Taj Mahal. The monkey bit her hand. ASI and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel took her to the dispensary, where she received first aid before being sent to hospital.
On September 16, British tourist Suzanne Ann Barrett was bitten on the hand by a monkey near the Royal Gate. She was given first aid and later sent to hospital. At the time, it was the fourth reported monkey attack on tourists at the Taj Mahal in around 15 days.
Wednesday’s incidents have now added two more cases to the growing list of monkey attacks on visitors.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MONKEY CONTROL?
The repeated incidents have raised concerns about tourist safety at the Taj Mahal.
The responsibility for catching monkeys is said to lie with the Agra Municipal Corporation, while the ASI is responsible for tourist safety and arrangements within the Taj Mahal complex.
While first-aid facilities are available for tourists who are attacked, the repeated incidents have raised questions about when a permanent solution to the monkey problem at the monument will be found.
With monkeys attacking foreign tourists, women and children, the incidents have also highlighted the need for better coordination between the departments responsible for tourist safety and monkey control in Agra.
– Ends
With inputs from Nitin Upadhyay
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
