Agra, March 28 

A pinnacle of one of the four minarets of the Taj Mahal fell off on Monday afternoon during repair work, witnesses said. But officials said it was taken out because of its weak condition.

Superintending archaeologist Bhuvan Vikram of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) told IANS that the pinnacle did not fall but was taken out because of its weak condition.

Chemical cleaning of the white marble Taj Mahal has been going on for the past few months. 

The covers and scaffoldings around the minarets have marred the beautiful view of the 17th century monument, visited by thousands each day.