Sindhudurg: A 35-feet-tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, collapsed at the Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district on Monday. The incident has sparked a wave of criticism from opposition parties, who have accused the state government of neglecting the quality of construction.
According to officials, the statue fell at approximately 1 pm. A senior official stated that a team of experts will be deployed to investigate the exact cause of the collapse. Initial reports suggest that the recent bout of heavy rains and strong winds in the district may have contributed to the incident. Senior police and district administration officials have arrived at the site to assess the situation.
The statue, which was a significant symbol of Maharashtra’s rich history, was unveiled by Prime Minister Modi during Navy Day celebrations on December 4 last year. The Prime Minister had also participated in various events at the fort during the unveiling.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state president and former minister Jayant Patil held the state government responsible for the collapse, criticising them for focusing solely on the Prime Minister’s unveiling programme while neglecting the construction quality. “The government was more concerned with the grandeur of the event than with ensuring the statue’s durability,” Patil remarked.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik also expressed his dismay, demanding an inquiry into the quality of work and calling for accountability from those involved in the construction and installation of the statue.
Responding to the criticisms, Maharashtra minister Deepak Kesarkar stated that while he was not fully informed about the incident, he assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted. Public Works Department Minister Ravindra Chavan confirmed the inquiry and pledged that the government would swiftly replace the statue with a new one at the same location. He added that the government is committed to addressing the issue promptly and ensuring that such incidents do not recur.
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