Kolkata, June 2 -- The 70-foot statue of Argentine football star Lionel Messi that stood in the Lake Town area has been dismantled and removed by the Public Works Department (PWD) after it was found to be structurally unstable.

The statue was taken down on Monday, June 1, following concerns that the towering monument had become a safety hazard. Officials said the structure was visibly swaying during recent storms, prompting urgent action ahead of the monsoon season.

Concerns about the statue's stability were first raised when local residents alerted the Lake Town police station that it was shaking during strong winds. A joint inspection by police and PWD staff followed. According to officials, the contractor reported faults in the statu...