Tourists who came to marvel at the magnificent Taj Mahal were astonished to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World disappear behind a thick layer of fog.
The cold wave that swept across northern India significantly reduced visibility, making it difficult for visitors to see the ivory-white marble mausoleum from the Royal Gate and the Lady Diana bench closer to the monument.
Due to the heavy fog, several trains were delayed and traffic on highways and major roads was severely disrupted into the afternoon.
The Meteorological Department (MET) has predicted that the Agra region will experience persistent, dense fog during both the morning and evening hours for the next five days.
Sunshine will be seen only in the afternoon and there is a possibility of rainfall on January 1, the MET predicted.
Dense fog blanketed the Agra-Lucknow Expressway near the Jharna Nala flyover, resulting in a major collision involving numerous vehicles and leaving several commuters injured.