Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India]: A tragic incident unfolded early Tuesday morning at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, where a makeshift wall collapsed, killing eight devotees and injuring four others during the Chandanotsavam festival. The structure reportedly collapsed due to heavy rains at midnight while devotees were queued for the rare Nija Rupam (true form) darshan of the deity.
Key Highlights:
- Cause & Casualties:
A 20-foot-long wall under construction beside the queue lines collapsed at around 2:30 AM, crushing devotees gathered for the festival.
Eight people died and four were injured, SDRF confirmed. - Emergency Response:
CM Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the incident, directed immediate medical aid for the injured, and announced a three-member probe committee to investigate the cause. - Compensation Announced:
- Rs 25 lakh ex gratia to the families of each deceased.
- Rs 3 lakh to each injured person.
- Job offer on outsourcing basis in temples under the Endowments Department to one member from each affected family.
- Leadership Reactions:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and announced Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the deceased’s families and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
- Former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed sorrow and urged the state to ensure best-in-class medical care.
- YSRCP leader Gowtham Reddy blamed the Naidu government for mismanagement, alleging inadequate safety measures and recalling past tragedies under Naidu’s leadership.
- Ongoing Rescue:
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are conducting search and rescue operations.
Background:
The Chandanotsavam festival is one of the most significant annual events at Simhachalam temple, attracting tens of thousands of devotees. The rare Nija Rupam darshan occurs only once a year, causing heavy footfall and long queues.