Visakhapatnam: Tragedy struck the revered Simhachalam Hill early Wednesday morning as a wall collapsed, claiming the lives of at least seven devotees, including three women. Several others sustained injuries in the incident that occurred while devotees were waiting in a queue line to witness the auspicious ‘Nijaroopa Darshan’ of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy on the occasion of the annual ‘Chandanotsavam’ festival.
Soon after, state home minister Vangalapudi Anitha rushed to the spot of the incident. She told reporters that according to preliminary reports, the newly-built temple wall was soaked with water due to previous night’s heavy rainfall, adding that pressure from the devotees led to the wall’s collapse.
“They were standing in the queue line for special darshan after paying ₹300 per ticket. The wall is adjacent to a shopping complex on the way from Simhagiri Bus Stand—suddenly gave way and collapsed due to loosening of soil because of heavy rains in the area,” she said.
The incident unfolded at the hilltop temple, a significant pilgrimage site in Andhra Pradesh, as large numbers of devotees gathered for the annual ritual. Initial reports suggest that the wall, part of a temporary structure erected to manage the surging crowds, gave way unexpectedly. The sudden collapse resulted in chaos and panic, trapping several devotees beneath the debris.
Emergency services swiftly responded to the scene, and rescue operations are currently underway. Injured individuals have been rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. Senior district officials and temple authorities have reached the site to oversee the rescue efforts and assess the situation. The exact cause of the wall collapse is yet to be determined, and an inquiry is expected to be initiated.
The ‘Chandanotsavam’ festival draws lakhs of devotees to Simhachalam every year. This tragic incident casts a pall over the festivities, leaving the community in shock and mourning. Authorities are now focused on ensuring the safety of the remaining devotees and providing necessary assistance to the families of the deceased and injured. The incident highlights the critical need for robust infrastructure and crowd management measures at major pilgrimage sites to prevent such devastating accidents. Further updates on the incident and the investigation are awaited.
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