Eight people were killed and several others injured when a newly built wall collapsed at the Simhachalam Temple in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, just after 3:00 AM on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The wall, erected only weeks earlier as a landslide barrier near the temple’s Rs 300 ticket queue, gave way during the annual Chandanotsavam festivalVisakhapatnam, a sacred event that draws tens of thousands of devotees who come to witness Lord Varaha Narasimha Swamy’s rare, uncovered form. Heavy rains and thunderstorms had lashed the Eastern Ghats for nearly 40 minutes—soil, already unstable on the steep hillside, gave out beneath the untested structure.
Conflicting Death Toll, Unified Grief
Reports on the death toll varied: NDTV and India TV News confirmed eight fatalities, including five men and three women. The Times of India and The Federal reported seven, among them four members of a single family. One injured person was initially cited by some outlets; later updates from hospital sources confirmed at least three injured, all rushed to King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam. The confusion underscores the chaos of the moment—devotees sleeping in makeshift shelters near the temple complex, the darkness, the suddenness. There were no warning signs. No alarms. Just the thunder of collapsing concrete and screams swallowed by the storm."We Were Pressured to Finish"
The wall’s construction timeline is now central to the investigation. While NDTV said it was built 20 days prior, contractor Lakshmana Rao told investigators from the Principal Secretary S Suresh Kumar-led committee that the work had been completed in just five days. "I refused to do it," Rao reportedly said. "I halted it. But officials from the Endowment and Tourism Department pushed us to finish before the festival." The wall, intended to prevent erosion on the ghat road from Simhagiri bus stand, was never designed to bear structural loads—yet it was positioned directly beside a high-traffic queue line where hundreds stood in line for darshan.Government Response: Aid and Accountability
Within hours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement from the PMO India account: "Deeply saddened by the loss of lives... Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones." His office then announced financial aid: ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to each family of the deceased, and ₹50,000 to each injured person. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu announced a larger ex-gratia payment of ₹25 lakh per family, tweeting: "My condolences to the families. I'm closely monitoring the situation." Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, who arrived at the scene by 5:00 AM, cited heavy rainfall as the immediate trigger but acknowledged deeper concerns: "The terrain is fragile. The wall was not engineered for this kind of pressure."Who Was There? Who Escaped?
The temple’s hereditary trustee, former Union minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapati Raju, and his family were inside the temple complex during the collapse—praying as usual during the pre-dawn rituals. They escaped unharmed. Meanwhile, dozens of pilgrims, many from rural Andhra, were sleeping on the ground nearby, seeking shelter from the cool night air. Some were buried under debris. Others were pulled out by neighbors before rescue teams arrived.Rescue, Investigation, and the Shadow of Festivals
The National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, and local police worked through the morning, using thermal imaging and listening devices to locate survivors. By noon, the site was cleared. The three-member investigative committee—led by S Suresh Kumar, with police and irrigation officials—has begun interviewing contractors, departmental officers, and engineers. Their findings could trigger criminal negligence charges. The Simhachalam Temple is not just a place of worship—it’s an economic engine. During Chandanotsavam, vendors earn millions selling sandalwood paste, flowers, and souvenirs. Officials often prioritize spectacle over safety, rushing infrastructure to accommodate crowds. Last year, a temporary canopy collapsed at the Tirupati temple during a similar festival; no one died, but warnings went unheeded.What’s Next?
The temple’s administration has suspended all non-essential construction until the investigation concludes. The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered safety audits of all 12 major temples in the state with hillside structures. But the deeper question lingers: Why do we build for crowds and not for lives? In a country where festivals are sacred, and devotion is absolute, how many more walls must fall before safety becomes non-negotiable?Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the wall built so quickly before the festival?
Contractor Lakshmana Rao told investigators the wall was rushed in just five days under pressure from the Endowment and Tourism Department, which wanted to improve crowd flow and prevent erosion ahead of the Chandanotsavam festival. Officials reportedly overruled his objections, prioritizing aesthetics and visitor volume over structural integrity. This mirrors a pattern seen in other religious sites where infrastructure is upgraded last-minute for major events.
How does this compare to past temple accidents in India?
In 2022, a temporary stage collapsed at the Tirupati temple during a festival, injuring 17. In 2019, a railing gave way at the Shirdi Sai Baba temple, killing five. Each incident involved rushed construction, lack of engineering oversight, and high footfall. Yet no systemic reforms followed. Simhachalam’s collapse is the deadliest in Andhra Pradesh in over a decade and may finally force state-wide safety audits for religious infrastructure.
Who is responsible for temple infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh?
The Andhra Pradesh Endowment Department manages temple properties and finances, while the Tourism Department handles visitor facilities. Both departments operate independently but often collaborate on construction projects. The lack of a unified safety protocol between them created a gap where accountability vanished. The current investigation will determine if bureaucratic negligence played a role.
What’s being done for the victims’ families now?
Families of the deceased will receive ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and ₹25 lakh from the Andhra Pradesh government as ex-gratia. Injured individuals get ₹50,000 each. The state has also promised free medical care and psychological support. However, many families say financial aid won’t replace lost breadwinners—especially since most victims were daily wage laborers or small traders who came to the temple to sell goods during the festival.
Will the Chandanotsavam festival continue this year?
Temple authorities have confirmed the festival will proceed as scheduled through May 5, 2025, but with major changes: the ticket queue line has been relocated away from the collapsed wall’s location, and temporary barriers are now being inspected daily by engineers. Devotees are being urged to avoid sleeping near temple walls or slopes. The decision to continue has drawn mixed reactions—some see it as honoring tradition; others call it insensitive.
Why does this happen again and again at religious sites?
Religious sites in India often operate outside standard building codes because they’re considered ‘cultural’ rather than ‘public infrastructure.’ Funding comes from donations, not municipal budgets, and oversight is fragmented. Contractors bid for quick, low-cost jobs. Engineers are rarely consulted. And when disasters strike, the narrative becomes one of divine will—not human failure. This tragedy may force a reckoning: devotion shouldn’t demand death.