Hyderabad: At least seven devotees in queue at the Simhachalam temple near Visakhapatnam were killed and about half-a-dozen injured after a wall on the premises collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday. The mishap occurred during a congregation at Lord Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, popularly known as Simhachalam Appanna, for the annual Chandanotsavam. Those killed were standing in a special queue—charges for which amount to Rs 300 per head—to catch a glimpse of the deity.
On Tuesday, Visakhapatnam district collector Harendhira Prasad had, along with other senior district officials, inspected arrangements at the temple. A dry run was also conducted to ensure preparedness. A panel comprising the state’s home, revenue and endowments ministers was also involved in overseeing the arrangements.
Among the deceased were three women and four men, including a young techie couple from Visakhapatnam. The husband and wife, originally from Madhurawada, were employed with a Hyderabad-based IT firm in a work-from-home arrangement.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said Wednesday that authorities suspect heavy rain the previous night led to the collapse. In a post on X, Naidu said he spoke with the district collector and superintendent of police and continues to monitor the situation.
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
Naidu also held teleconferences with state ministers and officials and ordered a probe by a three-member committee. He also announced ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the deceased and financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh each to the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi too condoled with those who lost loved ones and announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to next to next of kin of the deceased and financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each to the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
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
YSR Congress Party president and former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep shock and sorrow “over the tragic deaths of devotees”. He urged the state government to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and appealed to authorities concerned to extend all necessary support and assistance to the families of the deceased.
Jagan is expected to visit Visakhapatnam later in the day to meet the injured and families who lost loved ones.
Local YSRCP functionaries alleged the wall in question was built only 3-4 days back in anticipation of a large turnout for Chandanotsavam and lacked proper concrete binding and curing. Former endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas remarked that the TDP-led coalition government’s inability to manage an event of this scale “led to the deaths of eight devotees, exposing its gross negligence and disregard for Hindu sentiments”.
The centuries-old Simhachalam temple, with 16-pillared Natyamandapam (platform for dance, musical performances) and 96-pillared Kalayanamandapam (platform for celestial wedding of deity and other rituals) is frequented by top politicians, judges and celebrities.
The name Simhachalam is derived from “Simha” (a lion) and “Achala” (a hill).
At the temple, lord Narasimha Swamy, an incarnation of the deity Vishnu—presiding deity of Uttarandhra region—is found in the tribhangi posture, with the head of a lion on a human torso. The idol is covered with sandalwood throughout the year and revealed only once a year. This occasion is celebrated as Chandanotsavam.
In January this year, six devotees had died in a stampede in Tirupati when hundreds gathered to secure tokens for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)