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5d ago

Simhachalam Temple Wall Collapse Claims Seven Lives During Festival

Heavy rains and structural failure caused the collapse of a newly built wall at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Visakhapatnam, prompting rescue operations and government inquiries.

Rescue personnel and others during a rescue operation after a rain-soaked wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Simhachalam, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday (PTI)
At the time of the incident, devotees were in queue for the 'Nijaroopa' darshan of the deity at the temple.
8 killed in wall collapse at temple in Andhra Pradesh's Simhachalam
Photo: ANI

Overview

  • Seven devotees died and several others were injured when a 20-foot-long wall collapsed near the Rs 300 ticket queue during the annual Chandanotsavam festival.
  • Heavy overnight rainfall and loosened soil were identified as the primary causes of the wall collapse, which occurred at approximately 2:30 am on April 30, 2025.
  • Rescue operations by NDRF and SDRF teams were completed swiftly, with the injured receiving treatment at King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam.
  • Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced ₹25 lakh compensation for each deceased family, ₹3 lakh for the injured, and employment opportunities for victims' families in temple services.
  • A three-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident, highlighting concerns over infrastructure safety and crowd management during major religious events.