The tourist, identified as 36-year-old Kim Mihye, sustained injuries to her arm during the attack near the monument’s Eastern Gate. Officials said she was eventually taken to a private hospital in an e-rickshaw after receiving first aid at the Taj Mahal’s primary health centre.
Personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) stationed at the entrance immediately responded and called for an ambulance.Personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) stationed at the entrance immediately responded and called for an ambulance.
A South Korean tourist was injured after being bitten by a monkey outside the Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra on Sunday, with the incident drawing further attention after an ambulance allegedly failed to reach the site for nearly an hour despite being called immediately.
The tourist, identified as 36-year-old Kim Mihye, sustained injuries to her arm during the attack near the monument’s Eastern Gate. Officials said she was eventually taken to a private hospital in an e-rickshaw after receiving first aid at the Taj Mahal’s primary health centre.
Videos of the incident have since gone viral on social media, showing the injured woman clutching her bleeding arm and visibly distressed as locals escorted her towards a nearby dispensary for treatment.
Monkey attacked tourist while she waited for her husband
According to officials, Kim Mihye and her husband had arrived at the Taj Mahal after booking their tickets online.
The couple had reached the Eastern Gate to collect the complimentary shoe covers and bottled water provided to foreign visitors holding special entry tickets.
Officials said Kim was waiting outside while her husband collected the items when a monkey allegedly attacked and bit her on the elbow, causing significant bleeding.
Personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) stationed at the entrance immediately responded and called for an ambulance.
She was given first aid at the monument’s primary health centre while waiting for medical transport.
A monkey attacked a South Korean woman tourist at the Taj Mahal in Agra, biting her on the hand and causing bleeding. The injured tourist reportedly had to wait for nearly an hour for an ambulance while she remained in severe pain. — Her companion asked people, “Where do we go?”… pic.twitter.com/uZgSFblG0V — July 28, 2026
Tourist taken to hospital by e-rickshaw
According to officials, the ambulance failed to reach the site for approximately one hour despite being informed about the emergency.
With medical assistance delayed, officials arranged a battery-operated vehicle, commonly known as an e-rickshaw, to transport Kim to a nearby private hospital for further treatment.
An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) official confirmed that there had been a delay in the ambulance reaching the monument.
“There was a delay in the ambulance reaching the spot after being called. A letter has been written to the Chief Medical Officer in this regard,” the official said.
ASI reports ambulance delay to Chief Medical Officer
Senior Conservation Assistant Qalandar said the ASI team reached the location immediately after receiving information about the monkey attack.
He said the health department’s ambulance was contacted without delay but the driver allegedly failed to reach the Taj Mahal for nearly an hour.
According to Qalandar, the delay was treated as a serious lapse.
He said a report had been prepared against the ambulance driver and forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Agra, seeking appropriate action.
ASI had already warned authorities about monkey menace
The incident has also renewed concerns over the increasing presence of monkeys inside and around the Taj Mahal complex.
Qalandar said the ASI had written to the Agra Municipal Corporation around a month ago regarding the growing number of monkeys and stray dogs within the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
According to him, the ASI had requested that the civic body capture and remove the animals to reduce the risk to visitors.
However, he said no effective action had been taken so far.