VISAKHAPATNAM: At least seven people, including three women, were killed and another person injured during the Chandanotsavam festival at the Simhachalam temple on Wednesday.
A newly built wall collapsed onto devotees queuing after a severe 40-minute downpour with thunderstorms and fierce winds.
The annual Chandanotsavam festival of Lord Varaha Nrusimha Swamy witnessed its first-ever casualties in its centuries-old history. While previous Chandanotsavam (Nijrupa Darshanam) events experienced stampedes, none resulted in fatalities. Chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu commissioned a three-member committee to investigate.
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The identified victims included K. Mandikantha Eswara Sesha Rao (29) from Ambajipeta, Yedla Venkata Rao (58), HCL employee Pilla Umamaheswara Rao (30), his wife Pilla Sailaja (29), his mother-in-law Venkata Ratnam (45), and G Mahalakshmi (65). Praveen, the injured person, is receiving medical treatment.
The incident occurred at 3 pm during heavy rainfall. The 25-foot-long wall collapsed due to substandard construction, containing excessive sand and insufficient cement, trapping numerous devotees underneath.
Temple hereditary trustee Poosapati Ashok Gajapati Raju was present, offering silk robes when the tragedy occurred. Chief minister Naidu announced compensation of Rs 25 lakhs for victims’ families and Rs 3 lakhs for the injured.
He conducted a teleconference with officials and ministers Anam Ramnarayaa Reddy, Anita, Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, Anagani Satyha Prasad, Vizag MP Sribharat, temple hereditary trustee Ashok Gajapati Raju, and others.
He asked the officials to provide better treatment to the injured persons. The govt promised employment in the Endowment Department temples for bereaved families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared ex-gratia payments of Rs 2 lakhs for the deceased’s families and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Deputy CM Pavan Kalyan expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.
