Shivaji Maharaj's 35-Foot Statue Collapses In Maharashtra's Sindhudurg — On Cam

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4 last year during the occasion of Navy Day.

A 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj located in a fort in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra collapsed on Monday. The statue, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, collapsed around 1 pm at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, an official said.

After the incident, opposition parties criticised the state government, accusing it of neglecting the quality of work. The official also said that experts will determine the exact cause of the collapse, the district has experienced heavy rains and strong winds over the past few days.

Senior police and district administration officials visited the site to assess the situation, and the extent of the damage is being evaluated, he added, news agency PTI reported.

The statue was unveiled by PM Modi on December 4 last year during the occasion of Navy Day. He had participated in the celebrations at the fort.

Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said, "We have our emotions attached to him (Shivaji Maharaj). We worship him like God. The statue collapsed due to the high wind. It’s unfortunate. Our Minister has gone there and is inspecting the situation."

Jayant Patil Criticises State Govt For Collapse

Crticising the state government over ignorance toward the quality of work, NCP (SP) state president and former minister Jayant Patil said, "The state government is responsible for the collapse, as it did not take proper care. It only focused on conducting an event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to unveil the statue. This Maharashtra government only issues new tenders, accepts commissions, and gives contracts accordingly." 

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik also took a dig at the state government for the alleged bad quality of the work. "The state government may try to evade responsibility. People responsible for the construction and erection of the statue must be probed thoroughly," he said.

In response, Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar said, "I don't have all the details about the incident. However, it's important to note that PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan, also the guardian minister of Sindhudurg district, has said a thorough investigation will be conducted in the matter."

"We are committed to erecting a new statue at the same location. This statue, unveiled by PM Modi, pays tribute to Shivaji Maharaj's visionary efforts in building a sea fort. We will take all necessary steps to address this matter promptly and effectively," he said.