12 minutes agoSocial
38LENS
4 SourcesKolkata, India
thebalanced.newsKolkata's 70-Foot Lionel Messi Statue Sways in Wind, Officials Review Safety Concerns
A 70-foot statue of footballer Lionel Messi near Kolkata's Lake Town Clock Tower has raised safety concerns after swaying in moderate winds. Residents reported visible shaking and filed complaints urging authorities to reinforce, relocate, or remove the statue. Officials found construction irregularities, including lack of a no-objection certificate and an unstable design causing the sway. Engineers have inspected the statue, deeming it dangerous, with authorities considering removal ahead of the monsoon season to prevent accidents.
Political Bias
18%77%5%
Sentiment
34%
AI Analysis
Political bias across 4 sources
● Left 18%● Center 77%● Right 5%
The articles primarily present local residents' safety concerns and official responses without partisan framing. Coverage includes government officials' actions and technical assessments, with some mention of administrative oversights. The inclusion of a related sports minister's critique of another statue adds context but does not influence the main story's neutrality. Overall, the perspectives focus on public safety and administrative accountability.
Sentiment — Neutral (34/100)
The tone across the articles is cautious and concerned, emphasizing potential safety risks and community unease. While the statue is recognized as a tribute and attraction, the dominant sentiment highlights instability and the need for corrective measures. The coverage is largely neutral, avoiding sensationalism, and focuses on factual reporting of complaints, inspections, and official steps.
How 4 sources covered this story
Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.
| Source | Their headline | Bias | Sentiment |
|---|---|---|---|
| english | Kolkata's 70-Foot Messi Statue Sway In High Winds On VIP Road, Locals Fear Collapse | Center | Neutral |
| indianexpress | Kolkata's 70-foot Lionel Messi statue 'swaying in wind', officials order its removal after locals complain | Center | Neutral |
| thetelegraph | Lake Town residents raise safety fears after 70-foot Lionel Messi statue sways in strong winds | Center | Negative |
| freepressjournal | VIDEO: Lionel Messi Statue In Kolkata On The Verge Of Collapse 6 Months After Installation Amid Strong Winds | Center | Neutral |
Coverage timeline
freepressjournal broke this story on 25 May, 10:49 am. Other outlets followed.
- 1freepressjournal25 May, 10:49 amVIDEO: Lionel Messi Statue In Kolkata On The Verge Of Collapse 6 Months After Installation Amid Strong Winds
- 2thetelegraph25 May, 01:04 pmLake Town residents raise safety fears after 70-foot Lionel Messi statue sways in strong winds
- 3indianexpress25 May, 01:46 pmKolkata's 70-foot Lionel Messi statue 'swaying in wind', officials order its removal after locals complain
- 4english25 May, 03:07 pmKolkata's 70-Foot Messi Statue Sway In High Winds On VIP Road, Locals Fear Collapse
Lens Score breakdown
38/100
Public interest0/100
Coverage gap100%
Story is receiving appropriate media attention relative to public interest.
Accountability flags
TBN's analysis identified the following accountability dimensions in this story.
- financial irregularity
This story involves alleged financial misconduct — unexplained transactions, procurement irregularities, or misuse of public/shareholder funds.
- public safety issue
This story involves a risk to public safety — infrastructure failure, regulatory lapse, hazardous conditions, or emergency mishandling.
Who's involved
Institutions and figures named across source coverage.
Government
Weather OfficeHigh Court Division BenchLake Town Police Station
Political
Former MLA Sujit Bose
Enforcement
Enforcement DirectoratePoliceLake Town Police Station
Judiciary
Chief Justice Sujoy PaulHigh Court Division Bench
Story context
- Category
- Social
- Location
- Kolkata, India
- Sources analysed
- 4
- Last analysed
- 25 May 2026
- Key entities
- Lake Town, KolkataLionel MessiAssociation footballKolkataBig BenArgentinaVIP Road, KolkataSocial mediaFIFA World CupIndiaChief ministerMamata Banerjee
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