Dome of historic Old Delhi Mosque damaged in heavy rain

The central dome of the historic Masjid Mubarak Begum in Old Delhi's Chawri Bazar area got damaged due to heavy rain and lightning in the national capital yesterday.

New Delhi: The central dome of an iconic heritage mosque in Old Delhi got damaged due to heavy rainfall on Sunday.

According to reports, the historic Masjid Mubarak Begum in the Chawri Bazar area got damaged due to heavy rain and lightning at around 7 am yesterday.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

"I was sitting nearby, waiting for the rain to stop. At around 7 am there was lightning. It was as if the dome of the mosque exploded," said Mohit, a local.

"I heard lighting and saw many people running away. There was knee-deep water here. I then realised that the dome had been damaged," said another local.

Zafar Ali, the President of the Mosque Committee, expressed relief that no one had got injured in the incident. He said that the mosque came under the Waqf Board, and that the archaeology department had declared it a historic structure.

Read: Delhi rain fills up city's cup of woes

"The iconic Masjid Mubarak Begum's (built in 1823) central dome has broken down, due to rain," tweeted Purani Dilli Walon ki Baatein, a popular platform to promote the heritage of Old Delhi.

• The iconic Masjid Mubarak Begum's (built in 1823 ) central dome has broken down, due to rain.
  Follow @PDWKB #MasjidMubarakBegum #puranidilliwaley pic.twitter.com/YQy5XTxMjH

  — Purani Dilli Walo Ki Baatein™ (@PDWKB) July 19, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  The iconic Masjid Mubarak Begum's (built in 1823 ) central dome has broken down, due to rain.
  Follow @PDWKB #MasjidMubarakBegum #puranidilliwaley pic.twitter.com/YQy5XTxMjH

  — Purani Dilli Walo Ki Baatein™ (@PDWKB) July 19, 2020

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  The iconic Masjid Mubarak Begum's (built in 1823 ) central dome has broken down, due to rain.
  Follow @PDWKB #MasjidMubarakBegum #puranidilliwaley pic.twitter.com/YQy5XTxMjH

  — Purani Dilli Walo Ki Baatein™ (@PDWKB) July 19, 2020

"A distinguished architecture - Masjid Mubarak Begum had been unique in many ways was destroyed by an effect of lightening," it said, adding a hashtag, #RestoreMasjidMubarakBegum.

Shahjahanabad or Old Delhi is home to countless heritage buildings, old monuments and iconic landmarks, many of which are in dire need of preservation.

The national capital was lashed by heavy rain yesterday, leading to massive waterlogging under Minto Bridge and collapse of houses and trees in several areas.

Read: Delhi rains: Waterlogging of roads forces people to use bullock carts