GUWAHATI: Eight people tragically lost their lives, and several others were injured after a newly constructed wall at the Simhachalam Temple in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday, April 30. The incident occurred during the Chandanotsavam festival when a 20-foot stretch of the wall fell across the queue for Rs. 300 tickets, causing widespread chaos.
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The wall, which had been built only 20 days earlier, is believed to have collapsed due to torrential rain between 2:30 am and 3:30 am, although the exact cause remains under investigation.
Rescue operations were swiftly launched, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) working to free victims from the rubble. The injured were immediately transported to King George Hospital (KGH) for medical care. All debris has now been cleared, and the rescue efforts have concluded, according to reports.
Anitha Vangalapudi, Andhra Pradesh's Home Minister and head of Disaster Management, arrived at the scene to supervise the relief operations. The incident has deeply affected the local community, especially during the Chandanotsavam, an important event for devotees.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his condolences, stating on social media, “The collapse of a wall during the Chandanotsavam of Sri Varaha Lakshminarasimha Swamy, resulting in the deaths of seven devotees, has deeply shaken me. I express my profound condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this incident caused by the wall collapsing due to heavy rains. I have spoken with the District Collector and SP regarding the situation. I have instructed that treatment be provided to the injured. I am continuously reviewing the situation.”
