The death toll in the tragic collapse of a makeshift structure at the Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple during the annual Chandanotsavam festival has risen to eight, with four others injured, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The accident took place at approximately 2:30 a.m. during the early hours of Akshaya Tritiya, a day marked by heavy footfall at the hilltop temple in Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam. A 20-foot-long wall-like structure, part of the Rs. 300 ticket queue line, gave way amid heavy downpours, trapping several devotees under the debris.
Officials on the Ground
Vinay Chan, Principal Secretary of the Endowment Department, said investigations are ongoing.
“It is not appropriate for us to conclude the cause at this stage. Prima facie, we noticed a heavy downpour between 2:30 and 3:30 am. Rescue work is now complete, and all the debris has been cleared,” Chan told media from Tirupati.
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed promptly, and rescue operations have concluded. According to an SDRF official, the incident was reported immediately, and injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Political Leaders React
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his grief on social media platform X:
“The death of devotees in a wall collapse during the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Chandanotsavam has deeply saddened me. I have spoken to the District Collector and SP and instructed that proper medical care be provided to the injured. I am continuously monitoring the situation,” Naidu said.
YSR Congress Party President and former CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also reacted strongly to the tragedy, calling it “heartbreaking.”
“It is extremely painful that devotees who had come to witness the divine form of the Lord lost their lives in such a tragic manner. The government must ensure the best medical care and all necessary support for the bereaved families,” he urged.
BJP leader and former MLC Madhav called it an unfortunate incident, adding that the government has committed to conducting a full investigation and compensating the families of the deceased.
Background
The Chandanotsavam is an annual ritual where the deity is adorned with sandalwood paste and lakhs of devotees gather for a glimpse. This year’s celebrations turned fatal due to extreme weather conditions and what may be infrastructure lapses in crowd management.
As authorities examine structural stability and emergency planning at pilgrimage sites, questions are being raised about rain contingency preparedness, especially during high-traffic religious events.