8 killed as wall collapse at temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Simhachalam

Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, and local authorities carried out rescue operations at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam. According to officials, at least eight people lost their lives and four others were injured when a wall next to the queue line collapse on devotees during the early hours of Wednesday in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

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Wall Collapse During Chandanotsavam: CM Orders Probe, PM Modi Offers Condolences

The incident occurred around 2:30 am while devotees waited in line for ‘Nijaroopa’ darshan of the deity during the annual Chandanotsavam festival. After the wall collapsed, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local officials immediately launched rescue and relief operations. The chief minister formed a three-member official committee to investigate the wall collapse. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery, stating, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a wall in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.”

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Heavy Rains and Crowd Pressure Blamed for Wall Collapse: Home Minister Anitha

State Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha soon rushed to the incident site. She informed reporters that preliminary reports indicated the newly-built temple wall had absorbed water from the previous night’s heavy rainfall. She added that the pressure from the crowd caused the wall to collapse. “Devotees were standing in the queue line for special darshan after paying ₹300 per ticket. The wall, located next to a shopping complex on the route from Simhagiri Bus Stand, suddenly gave way and collapsed due to soil loosening from the heavy rains,” she said.

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Officials Oversee Rescue Efforts; CM Announces Ex Gratia for Victims

Along with Anitha, Visakhapatnam District Collector Harendhira Prasad and Commissioner of Police Shankha Brata Bagchi reached the temple to supervise the rescue efforts. Prasad stated that the victims included three women, whose identities were yet to be confirmed. He added that officials had shifted the bodies of the deceased and the injured to King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed his grief over the tragedy and offered condolences to the bereaved families. He also announced an ex gratia of ₹25 lakh for each victim’s family and ₹3 lakh for each injured person.

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