TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Drought that struck Nawada district in the state of Bihar in India reveals a breathtaking story. The mosque that sank for more than 30 years has resurfaced. As local media reported, the mosque building is still intact.

Mosque it was found among the muddy remains of the Phulwaria Dam. The images show how the small structure rises about 30 feet above the ground to the top of its dome, with three arched entrances below.

Newsweek, citing the Kashmir Media Service (KMS), reported that locals refer to the place as the Noori Mosque. The place of worship is said to have sunk after the construction of the Phulwaria Dam in 1985.

According to The Leader Hindi media, the Phulwaria dam, which “buried” the Noori mosque with water, is used for agriculture and to supply water to the villages. However, its construction resulted in the evacuation of the surrounding community due to the estimated rise in water level. As a result, local residents moved to another location, and the mosque remained standing until it was flooded with water.

Before the mosque was revealed recently, in recent years, the top of the Noori Mosque building sometimes likes to stand out.

Now, the appearance of the mosque in pristine condition means that many people come to see it up close, even in wet and muddy conditions. Apparently the building was completely intact despite having been submerged in water for decades.

According to KMS, the age of the Noori Mosque has been discussed. Some say the building was built in the early 1900s and could be around 120 years old based on the architecture.

Just as the mosque’s past is uncertain, so is the future of Noori Mosque. It is unclear whether the mosque can now be moved elsewhere or allowed to sink again when the water level finally rises.

Today, the drought in India persists. Reuters reported that on September 8, 2022, the Indian government imposed restrictions on rice exports after below-average monsoon rainfall restricted cultivation.

India exports rice to over 150 countries and accounts for over 40% of global shipments. Restrictions may lead to higher food prices.

This year there have been extreme weather conditions all over the world. Heat waves and droughts have occurred in a number of European countries. India’s neighboring country, Pakistan, has even been hit by flash floods.

In the United States, the shrinkage of the Lake Mead Reservoir revealed several sets of skeletons that should be evaluated by local authorities. Meanwhile in China, Drought severely exposed bottom of an ancient rocky island that is usually submerged in the waters of the country’s largest freshwater lake.

NEWSWEEK | Reuters

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