Indian Navy to Investigate Collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Statue in Maharashtra
Updated: Monday, August 26, 2024, 23:54 [IST]
The
Indian
Navy
has
launched
an
investigation
into
the
collapse
of
a
statue
of
Chhatrapati
Shivaji
Maharaj
in
Maharashtra’s
Sindhudurg.
This
statue,
unveiled
by
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
on
Navy
Day
last
year,
fell
on
Monday
around
1
pm.
Representative
image
In
a
statement
released
late
at
night,
the
Navy
expressed
deep
concern
over
the
incident.
“The
Indian
Navy
notes
with
deep
concern
the
damage
caused
this
morning
to
the
statue
of
Chhatrapati
Shivaji
Maharaj
that
was
unveiled
on
Navy
Day
on
December
4,
2023,
as
a
dedication
to
the
citizens
of
Sindhudurg,” it
said.
Investigation
and
Restoration
Efforts
The
Navy
has
dispatched
a
team
to
investigate
the
cause
of
the
collapse
and
to
initiate
steps
for
repair
and
restoration.
“Along
with
the
state
government
and
concerned
specialists,
the
Navy
has
deputed
a
team
to
immediately
investigate
the
cause
of
this
unfortunate
accident
and
initiate
steps
to
repair,
restore
and
reinstate
the
statue
at
the
earliest,” it
added.
Chief
Minister
Eknath
Shinde
addressed
the
embarrassment
caused
by
the
incident.
He
assured
that
efforts
would
be
made
to
rebuild
the
statue.
“It
is
very
unfortunate
that
the
statue
has
fallen
as
it
was
designed
and
built
by
the
Navy,” he
said.
Weather
Conditions
and
Immediate
Actions
The
collapse
occurred
due
to
strong
winds
blowing
at
45
kilometres
per
hour.
Chief
Minister
Shinde
mentioned
that
Guardian
Minister
Ravindra
Chavan
had
arrived
at
the
site
to
assess
the
situation.
“Our
guardian
minister
Ravindra
Chavan
has
arrived
at
the
spot
to
assess
the
situation,
and
we
will
rebuild
this
statue
even
stronger,”
he
stated.
The
35-foot
statue
at
Rajkot
Fort
in
Sindhudurg
district
was
a
significant
dedication
to
local
citizens.
The
Indian
Navy
is
working
closely
with
state
authorities
and
specialists
to
ensure
swift
restoration.
“Navy
officials
will
also
take
part
in
the
rebuilding
efforts,”
Shinde
confirmed.
This
incident
highlights
the
need
for
thorough
investigations
into
structural
failures,
especially
for
monuments
of
such
importance.
The
collaborative
efforts
between
state
authorities
and
the
Navy
aim
to
restore
and
reinforce
the
statue
promptly.