Storm kills one, topples ‘world’s tallest’ Durga bamboo idol in Assam
GUWAHATI: A storm on Sunday killed a man and destroyed houses in and around Guwahati besides toppling a bamboo idol of Durga, which, upon completion, would have found entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Nuruddin Ahmed, an art director for local films and mobile theatre groups, was the designer of the 100-ft image of Durga on a 10-ft pedestal.
His team of 40 artisans were scheduled to complete the structure by September 20.
The four-day Durga puja celebrations begin on September 26.
“No one was injured when the image fell. We are discussing the possibility of rebuilding it and by Monday, we will decide on its shape and size,” Biman Debnath, a member of the city’s Bishnupur Durga puja committee, said.
The committee had assigned Guwahati-based Ahmed to make the “world’s tallest Durga idol”.
Ahmed, 59, began working on the statue on August 1 with a team of 40 artisans. “This would have been the world’s tallest bamboo sculpture, beating the previous record of 83-ft for a fibre-and-iron sculpture of Durga made in Kolkata last year. Hopefully we can rebuild it,” he said.
Ahmed said some 6,000 bamboos of various species were being used. The work was estimated to cost ₹12 lakh.
The artist, whose wife is a Hindu, said he has constructed more than 200 Durga puja pandals since 1975.
Sunday’s storm also claimed a life when a motorcyclist died after a tree fell on him in the city’s Beharbari area. At least 80 houses were damaged on the outskirts of Guwahati.