A 35-foot-high statue of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rajkot fort in Malvan in Sindhudurg district, collapsed on Monday. The incident, which occurred around 1 pm, drew considerable criticism from opposition parties, who accused the state government of negligence and poor quality of work.

Heavy rain and winds suspected as contributing factors

According to local authorities, the collapse of the statue could be due to the recent bad weather. Sindhudurg district has been experiencing heavy rains and strong winds for the past two to three days. While experts are investigating and determining the exact cause of the collapse, weather-related factors are also being considered as a possible cause.

Opposition blames state government for neglect

Following the incident, opposition leaders were vocal in their criticism of the state government. NCP (SP) state president and former minister Jayant Patil accused the government of prioritising the event over the quality of the statue’s construction. “The state government is responsible for this collapse because it was not careful enough. It was more focused on organising an event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi than ensuring that the statue lasts,” Patil said. He further alleged that the government was re-tendering, accepting orders and awarding contracts without proper oversight on the project.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Vaibhav Naik also condemned the alleged poor quality of the workmanship. He stressed the need for a thorough investigation into those responsible for the construction and installation of the statue. “The state government may try to evade responsibility, but those responsible for this project must be thoroughly investigated,” Naik stressed.

Government reaction

Responding to the criticism, Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar confirmed the incident but noted that he did not have all the details at that time. He referred to a statement by PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan, who is also the Guardian Minister of Sindhudurg district, and assured that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted.

Kesarkar also assured that the government is committed to rectifying the situation. “We are committed to erecting a new statue at the same spot. This statue, unveiled by Prime Minister Modi, pays tribute to Shivaji Maharaj’s visionary efforts to build a sea fort. We will take all necessary measures to resolve this issue promptly and effectively,” he said.