What Went Wrong? 5 Reasons for the Shivaji Maharaj Statue's Collapse

In a surprising event, a 35-foot bronze statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra collapsed on Monday, just eight months after it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The statue fell apart, leaving only its metal feet intact. This incident has caused public outrage and led to accusations of negligence over the quality of the work. Investigations are underway to determine how this happened so soon after the statue's unveiling.

These can be the causes behind the collapse:

1.Rusting

The 35-foot bronze statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj collapsed because the materials used were of poor quality. The nuts and bolts were rusted, and the steel used in the statue had also begun to rust. This has led to public outrage and accusations of negligence, with investigations now looking into these issues.

2. Hurried Construction

The statue was reportedly put up quickly to meet the deadline for its unveiling by Prime Minister Modi on Navy Day. Yuvraj Sambhajiraje from Kolhapur criticized the rushed effort, calling the statue "shapeless" and poorly built, suggesting that there was a lack of proper planning and quality control.

3. Structural design

The statue's structural integrity has been questioned, with experts noting that the design and materials may not hold up well in the coastal environment of Sindhudurg. This issue highlights problems during the planning and construction phases, made worse by the fact that the Indian Navy, which isn't experienced in building statues, was given the project.

4. Neglect of maintenance warnings

Multiple warnings about the statue's worsening condition were reportedly given by locals and tourists. Even the assistant engineer of the PWD’s Malvan division raised concerns about rusting parts. Despite these alerts, no corrective action was taken, and the statue continued to weaken over time.

5. Weather conditions

Sindhudurg had heavy rains and strong winds before the statue collapsed. While the weather alone might not explain the collapse, it likely sped up the failure of the already weak structure. Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Eknath Shinde noted that wind speeds were around 45 km per hour during the collapse, suggesting that the combination of environmental conditions and the statue’s fragility were key factors in the incident.

Currently, an FIR has been filed against contractor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include collusion, fraud, and putting public safety at risk.