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IN PHOTOS: 70-foot Messi statue taken down in Kolkata after storms leave it swaying

Updated On: 01 June, 2026 05:19 PM IST | Divya Nair

A 70-foot-tall statue of Argentine football star Lionel Messi, which had become structurally unstable following recent storms, was removed from Lake Town in Kolkata on Monday. PICS/PTI

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PWD workers shift a statue of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi on a trailer, in Kolkata, on Monday. PIC/PTI

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PWD workers shift a statue of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi on a trailer, in Kolkata, on Monday. PIC/PTI
According to Public Works Department (PWD) officials, the statue was dismantled from its pedestal and loaded onto a truck using a hydraulic crane without any damage

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According to Public Works Department (PWD) officials, the statue was dismantled from its pedestal and loaded onto a truck using a hydraulic crane without any damage

The statue will remain in the PWD's custody, and there has been no official announcement regarding where it will be re-constructed

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The statue will remain in the PWD's custody, and there has been no official announcement regarding where it will be re-constructed

Rumours suggest it could be installed at Rabindra Sarobar or Eco Park, pending a final decision from the state government

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Rumours suggest it could be installed at Rabindra Sarobar or Eco Park, pending a final decision from the state government

Concerns regarding the statue's stability were first raised a few days ago when locals alerted the Lake Town police station that it was swaying during storms

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Concerns regarding the statue's stability were first raised a few days ago when locals alerted the Lake Town police station that it was swaying during storms

Following an inspection by police and PWD staff, the contractor reported faults in the statue's "foundation bolts" and warned authorities that the structure was dangerous and at risk of collapse. The statue was unveiled last December during Messi's visit to Kolkata, where the player inaugurated the monument via remote control.

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Following an inspection by police and PWD staff, the contractor reported faults in the statue's "foundation bolts" and warned authorities that the structure was dangerous and at risk of collapse. The statue was unveiled last December during Messi's visit to Kolkata, where the player inaugurated the monument via remote control.

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