Taj Mahal turrets damaged in storm

A strong storm has damaged two turrets located on different gates of the iconic Taj Mahal in northern India, officials said on Thursday.

Bhuvan Vikrama, the regional head of the Archaeological Survey of India said the damage was minor and will be repaired soon. Nobody was injured in the incident on Wednesday evening.

"The two small turrets, which are decorative features, came down during the storm that had winds reaching up to 130 kilometres per hour," Vikrama said by phone from Agra city where the Taj is located.

There was no damage to the main marble structure or the four big minarets which surround it, Vikrama added.

The damaged turrets were about 3 to 4.5 metres in length and located at different gates used by visitors.

The monument remained open to the public on Thursday, officials said.

The stunning white Taj Mahal was built in the mid-17th century by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his third and favourite queen, Mumtaz Mahal.

The most famous of India's landmarks, it draws an estimated 7 million to 8 million visitors annually.