35 Ft Shivaji Statue Collapses in Just 8 Months
The 35 ft tall Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue, which PM Modi had inaugurated in December 2023 at the Rajkot Fort, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra collapsed just after 8 months.
On August 26, 2024, a 35-foot-tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, unexpectedly collapsed at around 1 p.m. The statue was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just 8 months ago, in December 2023, to honor the legendary Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and celebrate Indian Navy Day.
The statue, made entirely of steel, was constructed under the supervision of the Indian Navy, starting in September 2023. However, the involvement of the Navy in the statue's construction had raised eyebrows due to their lack of expertise in building statues.
Earlier this year, the Public Works Department (PWD) had expressed concerns about the statue’s condition, particularly noting that its nuts and bolts had rusted. Despite these warnings, no preventive measures were taken, leading to the statue’s eventual collapse.
The incident has sparked a major controversy, with many people accusing those responsible of poor construction practices and negligence. Following the collapse, the Indian Navy expressed deep concern and sent a special team to investigate the cause and begin repair work.
The PWD has filed an FIR against the contractor and structural consultant involved in the statue’s construction, citing issues like collusion, fraud, and endangering public safety. Their complaint points to major construction flaws and poor-quality materials as the reasons for the statue's collapse.
Sindhudurg's guardian minister and PWD minister, Ravindra Chavan, confirmed that the steel used in the statue had rusted. He mentioned that the PWD had alerted the Navy about the statue’s deteriorating condition, but no corrective actions were taken.
Chavan’s statement has further fueled the controversy. Opposition leaders, including Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT), have accused the state administration of disrespecting Shivaji Maharaj. Thackeray claimed that the administration compromised on the statue’s quality for financial gains and rushed its construction to gain votes in the elections.
In response, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde blamed the strong winds in the area for the collapse, noting that the wind speed reached 45 km per hour at the time. He has ordered a thorough investigation and promised to reinstall an even bigger statue after the investigation is completed to appropriately honor Shivaji Maharaj's legacy.
