Seven Dead as Temple Wall Collapses in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Visakhapatnam, April 30 — A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, when a wall at the Simhachalam Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple collapsed, claiming the lives of seven devotees. The state government confirmed the incident and has announced compensation for the victims' families.
As per agency report, the collapse occurred around 3:00 am near the shopping complex on the temple's ghat road, where devotees holding ₹300 tickets were queuing up. Heavy overnight rainfall is believed to have loosened the soil around the structure, causing the wall to give way. One person was also injured in the incident.
State Home Minister V. Anitha, who was present at the site, stated that preliminary investigations suggest the heavy rain had undermined the integrity of the structure. She assured that rescue operations were carried out promptly and without negligence. Officials have indicated that further investigation will determine the exact cause.
The deceased include three women and four men. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed for the rescue operations. According to SDRF personnel, all eight people trapped under the debris were located, with seven declared dead on-site.
The tragedy has sparked condolences from national and state leaders. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi both expressed grief on social media, extending their sympathies to the families of the deceased. Prime Minister Modi also announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held a video conference to assess the situation and ordered the immediate provision of medical assistance to the injured. He also announced a compensation package of ₹25 lakh for each deceased victim’s family and ₹3 lakh for the injured. In addition, he assured a contractual job in the Endowments Department for one family member of each victim.
Naidu has constituted a three-member inquiry committee comprising officials from the irrigation, municipal administration, and police departments to conduct a detailed investigation. He also reviewed the matter with Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta and other senior officials at his residence in Undavalli.
Leaders from other states, including Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, also expressed sorrow. Reddy announced plans to visit the bereaved families in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday and urged the government to provide the best medical support and compensation to the victims.
Endowments Minister Ramnarayan Reddy described the incident as deeply unfortunate and stated that safety standards in temples across the state would be re-evaluated and strengthened to prevent such incidents in the future.
The temple authorities confirmed that a comprehensive inspection is underway to assess structural weaknesses in the complex, particularly in areas exposed to adverse weather. The temple attracts a large number of devotees year-round, especially during festivals like Chandana Utsavam, which was being celebrated when the incident occurred.
Authorities have sealed the area and are expected to issue detailed findings after the committee’s investigation concludes. The incident has raised concerns over infrastructure safety in high-footfall religious sites across the state.
