Eight people lost their lives and several others were injured after a cement wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Simhachalam, Andhra Pradesh, during early morning hours on Wednesday.
The incident happened while devotees were queuing for the ₹300 ticket darshan near the shopping complex area on Ghat Road, close to the Simhagiri Bus Stand. Crowds had gathered in large numbers for the temple’s annual Chandanamahotsavam festival.
Wall collapse linked to rain and temporary set-up
According to reports from the ground, the wall that gave way was part of a new, under-construction structure next to a tented area. Temporary shelters and queue systems had been put up to manage the huge turnout for the festival.
But heavy rains hit the area in the early hours, and because the temple sits on hilly terrain, the rain is believed to have loosened the soil beneath the temporary setup. This reportedly caused the tents and barricades to shift and fall against the under-construction wall, leading to its collapse.
People standing in the queue had no time to react. By the time emergency help arrived, eight devotees had already died. Many others were rushed to nearby hospitals with injuries.
Rescue Ops in full swing
Rescue efforts were quickly launched. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and fire and police departments were all on site. The injured were shifted to hospital under their supervision.
Home Minister V Anitha and senior district officials, including the District Collector and Police Commissioner, reached the site to personally monitor the situation. She also supervised rescue operations in the damaged area.
Leaders respond with condolences and aid
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow in a post on X, offering condolences to the families and wishing speedy recovery for the injured. The PM’s Office has announced financial aid of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also shared his condolences. He confirmed he was in constant touch with officials and was monitoring the developments closely. His message came in earlier in the day, before the death toll was confirmed to have risen.
Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, speaking from Amaravati, called the tragedy “deeply unfortunate” and assured that a full enquiry has been ordered. He promised the best possible medical treatment for the injured and said the government stands firmly with the families affected by this accident.
Festival celebrations continue amid tragedy
Despite the shocking event, some rituals of the annual Chandanamahotsavam still took place. Visuals from earlier in the day showed Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams chairman BR Naidu offering traditional silk garments (pattu vastras) to the deity, as part of the long-standing festival tradition.
