Indian Navy express deep concern over collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attributed the fall to strong winds, claiming that wind speeds of up to 45 km/h contributed to the incident.
August 26, 2024 23:45 IST Follow Us According to an official, the 35-foot statue fell around 1 pm, possibly due to heavy rains and gusty winds that have affected the region over the past few days. (Image:X)
The Indian Navy has expressed deep concern over the damage sustained by the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was unveiled on Navy Day, December 4, 2023, in Sindhudurg.
The Navy has deployed a team to investigate the cause of this unfortunate incident and to begin repairs and restoration efforts as quickly as possible.
The statue, a tribute to the Maratha warrior king, collapsed on Monday. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attributed the fall to strong winds, claiming that wind speeds of up to 45 km/h contributed to the incident. The statue, which was designed and constructed by the Indian Navy, had been a point of pride and its collapse has caused considerable embarrassment for the state government and drawn criticism from the opposition.
In response, Shinde has pledged to rebuild the statue and has indicated that Navy officials will be involved in the reconstruction process. The Public Works Department (PWD) will assess the site on Tuesday.
“The wind was blowing at a speed of 45km per hour, which caused the statue to fall. It is very unfortunate the statue has fallen as it was designed and built by the Navy. However, our guardian minister (Ravindra Chavan) has arrived at the spot to assess the situation, and we will rebuild this statue even stronger. Navy officials will also take part in the rebuilding efforts,” CM Eknath Shinde told PTI.
Sindhudurg’s guardian minister, Ravindra Chavan, has announced that legal action has been taken against Jaydeep Apte, the proprietor of the firm M/s Artistry, and structural consultant Chetan Patil, who were involved in the statue’s creation. Chavan also mentioned that the Maharashtra government had paid Rs 2.36 crore for the statue’s installation, with the Navy responsible for its design and construction.
The statue, which stood 35 feet tall, collapsed around 1 pm at Rajkot Fort in Malvan tehsil, Sindhudurg, approximately 480 km from Mumbai. Heavy rains and gusty winds in the region over the past few days might have contributed to the collapse. Senior police and district officials are on-site to assess the damage.