In a tragic incident during the auspicious Chandanotsavam festival, a wall collapsed at the historic Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, leading to the deaths of eight devotees and leaving several others injured. The collapse occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, amid heavy rainfall that had lashed the region.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
At approximately 2:30 a.m., a 20-foot-long makeshift wall gave way during the peak of the Chandanotsavam festivities. According to officials, the wall collapse was triggered by heavy rain between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m., which likely loosened the soil in the area. The debris was scattered across the temple grounds, as shown in visuals from the site.
Several devotees were present at the time, gathered to celebrate the significant religious occasion, which also coincided with Akshaya Tritiya.
#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh | Visuals from the Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Visakhapatnam, where seven people died after a 20-foot-long stretch collapsed during the Chandanotsavam festival pic.twitter.com/NYVIDsHGkV— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025
Immediate Response and Rescue Operations
Rescue operations were launched promptly with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed at the scene. Officials confirmed that:
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All debris was cleared within hours.
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Four people were injured and shifted to nearby hospitals.
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Rescue work has since concluded, though intermittent rain continues to affect the area.
Andhra Pradesh Home Minister V. Anitha, who was present at the temple during the incident, stated, "We were all drenched in rain. As I came out of the temple, I was informed about the incident. The injured were rushed to the hospital." She added that there was no delay or negligence in the emergency response.
#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh: On wall collapse at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam, YSRCP Spokesperson Konda Rajiv says, " Today, an unfortunate incident took place at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple during Chandanolsavam...due to a wall collapse,… pic.twitter.com/cbtrekRPUD— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025
Eyewitness Accounts and Preliminary Investigations
Initial assessments suggest the wall collapsed due to soil loosening caused by heavy rainfall. However, authorities have refrained from drawing definitive conclusions until a full investigation is completed.
Statements from Officials and Leaders:
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Vinay Chan, Principal Secretary of the Endowment Department: “Prima facie, we have noticed a downpour... Rescue work has been concluded... It is not appropriate to conclude the reasons yet.”
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K. Ramanarayana Reddy, Endowments Minister: Called the incident “unfortunate” and committed to implementing stronger safety protocols to prevent similar tragedies.
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A temple official noted the possibility of structural failure due to rain, pending full investigation.
Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a wall in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The…— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 30, 2025
Leaders Express Grief and Announce Compensation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
PM Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss and announced ex gratia:
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₹2 lakh for the family of each deceased.
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₹50,000 for each injured person from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
On X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister posted:
"Deeply saddened by the loss of lives... Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon."
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu
CM Naidu, who has been closely monitoring the situation, also announced ₹25 lakh ex gratia for the families of the deceased. He stated that he had spoken with the district Collector and Superintendent of Police, and assured that the injured were receiving appropriate medical treatment.
Naidu posted on X:
"Deeply saddened by the death of seven devotees at Simhachalam... my condolences to the families. I'm closely monitoring the situation and have ordered continuous review and support for victims."
Other Political Leaders React
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Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy also conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
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Former CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy called the incident “shocking” and urged the government to ensure best medical care and adequate compensation for the victims’ families.
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BJP leader and former MLC Madhav called it an “unfortunate incident,” emphasizing that it occurred on Akshaya Tritiya, a significant Hindu festival.
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YSRCP Spokesperson Konda Rajiv criticized the government, claiming that devotees and locals had previously raised concerns about the structural quality of the wall, but received no response.
శ్రీ వరాహ లక్ష్మీనరసింహ స్వామి చందనోత్సవంలో గోడ కూలి ఏడుగురు భక్తులు మృతి చెందడం నన్ను కలచి వేసింది. భారీ వర్షాల కారణంగా గోడ కూలడం తో జరిగిన ఈ ఘటనలో మరణించిన వారి కుటుంబాలకు నా ప్రగాఢ సానుభూతి. అక్కడి పరిస్థితి పై జిల్లా కలెక్టర్, ఎస్పీ తో మాట్లాడాను. గాయపడిన వారికి చికిత్స…— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) April 30, 2025
A Pattern of Temple Tragedies
This incident follows another temple tragedy earlier in the year, when six devotees were killed in a stampede at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati while waiting for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam tokens. These consecutive accidents have intensified scrutiny on temple crowd management and infrastructure safety during large religious gatherings.
Grief and a Call for Accountability
As rescue operations conclude and the debris clears, what remains is a demand for accountability and preventive action. With multiple warnings reportedly unheeded and structural integrity now in question, both devotees and political voices are urging the government to invest in safety measures, evaluate construction standards, and ensure transparency in investigations.
The Simhachalam tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness and infrastructure checks, especially at mass religious events.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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