35-Foot Statue of Shivaji, Unveiled by PM Modi, Collapses

Mumbai | Desk: A statue of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, collapsed on Monday.

Prime Minister Modi had unveiled the statue on December 4 of the previous year during Navy Day celebrations held at the fort.

Following the incident, opposition parties sharply criticized the state government, accusing it of neglecting the quality of construction.

Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar responded, “While I do not yet have all the details, it’s significant that PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan, who also serves as the guardian minister of Sindhudurg district, has called for a thorough investigation into the matter. We are committed to erecting a new statue at the same location.”

The 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj fell around 1 p.m. at Rajkot Fort in Malvan.

Experts are set to investigate the precise cause of the collapse, though the district has been experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds over the past few days, the official noted.

Senior police and district administration officials have reached the site to assess the situation, with damage evaluation currently underway.

Jayant Patil, NCP (SP) state president and former minister, remarked, “The state government is responsible for this collapse due to its failure to ensure proper maintenance. Rather than prioritizing the quality of the work, the government focused on organizing an event for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to unveil the statue.”

He added-“This Maharashtra government is known for issuing tenders, accepting commissions, and awarding contracts with little oversight.”