Shridhar Chillal, an octogenarian from Pune, finally cut his nails after 66 years but his record of having the world’s longest fingernails measuring over 31 feet has left his hand suffering a permanent physical disability.

Mr Chillal, 82, was flown to New York by the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum in Times Square for a special event during which his fingernails were cut.

The fingernails have been acquired by Ripley’s, which will display them at the museum in New York. His cut fingernails are laid flat in a memorial case and span a length of over 31 feet, the height of a three-story building, according to a statement by Ripley’s.

Mr Chillal had not cut his nails on his left hand since 1952. He had decided to grow his nails when he was scolded by his school teacher as a result of accidentally breaking the teacher’s long nail. The teacher said that Mr Chillal would never understand the importance of what he had done because Mr Chillal had never committed to anything.