Next total solar eclipse to occur after 123 years

AGRA/SURAT/GAYA - The longest duration solar eclipse, which was seen in various parts of India on Wednesday, will happen only after 123 years.

However, the next solar eclipse - an annual one - will occur next year.

Enthusiasts including foreigners converged to parts of India to witness the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century.

In Agra, the view was spectacular where the sun was seen being eclipsed in the backdrop of Taj Mahal.

Tourists said they had come all the way to watch the sight.

“The sight is unforgettable. It was a total solar eclipse and we have come all the way to Agra to watch it,” said Jyoti, a tourist.

Weather played a spoilsport in Surat where hundreds of enthusiasts had converged to watch the sight but could not do so due to overcast sky.

“I am sad too to see people who came here to see solar eclipse. We cannot see solar eclipse so I am very sad,” said Feny, a foreign tourist.

Gaya also witnessed a total eclipse with a diamond shaped formation seen in the sky.n some areas along the solar belt, however, viewers were disappointed as rain clouds marred the eclipse.

In Taregna in Bihar, an overcast sky disappointed people who gathered here to watch the eclipse.

State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi arrived here, which is one of the best places for viewing the eclipse.

The eclipse was first seen in Surat at sunrise in South Gujarat.

The cities through which the shadow of total eclipse passed are Surat, Ujjain, Indore, Bhopal, Sagar, Jabalpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Gaya, Patna, Bhagalpur, New Jalpaigudi, Guwahati and Dibrugarh.

The celestial spectacle began at 5:45 a.m. and ended at 7.24 a.m. (ANI)