A tragic incident occurred at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, where eight people lost their lives due to a wall collapse during the Chandanotsavam festival. The 20-foot-long wall gave way amidst heavy rainfall, leading to debris covering the temple grounds and trapping devotees who had gathered for the auspicious occasion.
The local authorities, including Visakhapatnam District Collector Harendhira Prasad and Commissioner of Police Shankha Brata Bagchi, arrived at the scene to oversee rescue operations. Prasad confirmed that among the victims were three women whose identities are still to be ascertained. Efforts have been made to transfer the deceased and injured individuals to King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam for further assistance.
Reacting to the tragedy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed profound sorrow over the loss of lives. He announced an ex gratia compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of each victim and ₹3 lakh for the injured individuals. In the wake of the incident, the Chief Minister has also established a three-member official committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the wall collapse.
The Chandanotsavam festival, during which the deity Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is unveiled in his true form (Nijaroopa), draws thousands of devotees annually. This year, the deity was awakened at 1:00 am with a Suprabhata Seva, and traditional rituals commenced to remove the sandalwood paste covering the idol. Following these rituals, ceremonial offerings were made by the hereditary temple trustee, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, and later, state officials presented the deity with traditional garments.
Andhra Pradesh Home Minister V Anitha reported that soil loosening due to heavy rains was a contributing factor to the wall’s collapse. Notably, there was significant rainfall recorded between 2:30 and 3:30 am, adding to the concerns surrounding the integrity of the temple structure. The rescue operations involved teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) alongside state authorities, illustrating the urgency of the situation. Former BJP MLC Madhav commented on the unfortunate timing of this incident coinciding with the festive day of Akshaya Tritiya, reinforcing the government’s commitment to investigate the matter and ensure compensation for the affected families. As of now, rescue efforts have concluded, confirming the fatalities amidst an official inquiry into the event’s causes.
