Barack Obama's trip to Agra cancelled

Will instead travel to Saudi Arabia for condoling King Abdullah's death, say officials

The much anticipated visit of US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle to Agra has been cancelled, Uttar Pradesh government officials said Saturday.

A senior UP government official in Lucknow said that Obama has cancelled all his personal programmes as he would be travelling to Saudi Arabia. 

The US President, who is coming to India on Sunday on a three-day visit, was scheduled to go to Agra with his family on Jan 27 after attending the Republic Day parade.

While Obama will address a select gathering in Delhi on January 27, a visit to Agra to see the iconic Taj Mahal has been cancelled as the President will leave from New Delhi to Saudi Arabia to condole the death of King Abdullah, who died on Thursday.

Elaborate security measures were put in place for the US President and his family for their Agra visit.

Reports also said that around 600 cleaners had been mobilised to clean the city ahead of the visit.