A 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajkot Fort in Malvan last year, collapsed on August 26, 2024. The statue, which had been a significant symbol of Maratha heritage, fell around 1 p.m. The cause of the collapse is still under investigation, though recent heavy rains and strong winds in the area may have contributed to the incident.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced that officials will visit the site to determine the cause and ensure the statue is reinstalled. He emphasized that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a revered figure in Maharashtra and pledged to address the situation swiftly.
The incident has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, who accuse the state government of negligence in ensuring the statue’s structural integrity. NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik have both called for a thorough investigation into the quality of the work and the circumstances leading to the collapse.
In response, Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar assured that a comprehensive inquiry would be conducted and affirmed the government’s commitment to reinstalling the statue.
The Indian Navy, which was involved in the statue’s installation, has also dispatched a team to investigate the incident and oversee repairs. They expressed concern over the damage and are collaborating with state authorities to restore the statue as soon as possible.
Additionally, the Malvan Police have registered a case against Jaideep Apte, owner of Messrs Artistry Company, and structural consultant Chetan Patil, under various sections of the BNS, following a complaint from the Maharashtra Government’s PWD department.