A statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by PM Modi at Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, last December, collapsed on Monday. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde described the incident as “unfortunate,” attributing it to strong winds of around 45 kmph that caused the statue, erected by the Navy, to fall and sustain damage. Shinde assured that the statue would be reinstalled.
Opposition parties criticized the government for neglecting the quality of the work, while the 35-foot statue fell around 1 p.m. Experts will investigate the cause of the collapse. Senior police and district officials are on-site to assess the situation.
Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje of Kolhapur, a direct descendant of Shivaji, criticized the hasty installation and called for a replacement, expressing dismay over the statue’s condition within a year. The state Public Works Department had previously alerted the Area Coastal Security Officer about the statue’s unstable condition, noting complaints from locals and tourists despite recent repairs by sculptor Jaydeep Apte.
The collapse has sparked a broader discussion about the quality and oversight of public monuments. Critics argue that the hasty installation and inadequate quality control reflect poorly on the handling of significant cultural and historical projects. The incident highlights the need for rigorous standards and thorough inspections to prevent such issues in the future, ensuring that monuments dedicated to national icons like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are preserved with the utmost care and respect.
