Giant Lionel Messi statue in India removed over safety fears

A towering 21-meter statue of soccer icon Lionel Messi in Kolkata, India, has been dismantled following concerns over its structural integrity. The monument, erected last year to commemorate Messi's visit to the city, became a subject of public anxiety as residents reported it swaying precariously in strong winds.

These public concerns triggered an engineering review. Sharadwat Mukherjee, a West Bengal legislator, confirmed to AFP that engineers assessed the statue and deemed it unstable. "There were also reports that it was actually swaying in the wind," Mukherjee stated, underscoring the gravity of the safety issues.

Authorities initially attempted a temporary fix, securing the colossal statue with ropes. However, this measure proved insufficient, and officials ultimately decided on its complete removal. The statue will be stored in a government warehouse until a new installation site can be determined, though no decision has been made regarding its potential re-erection elsewhere.

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Engineers assessed the statue and found it to be in an unstable condition. There were also reports that it was actually swaying in the wind.