NewKerala.com Logo

Andhra CM condoles demise of 7 people after wall collapses during temple festival

ANI April 30, 2025 195 views

Seven devotees died when a wall collapsed during the Chandanotsavam festival at Visakhapatnam's Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow and assured medical care for the injured. Officials suspect heavy overnight rains may have weakened the structure. Rescue teams have cleared the debris and concluded operations.

"I am deeply saddened by the death of seven devotees due to the collapse of a wall during the Chandanotsavam." - CM Chandrababu Naidu"
Visakhapatnam, April 30: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday condoled the demise of 7 people who died after a 20-foot wall collapsed during a temple festival in Visakhapatnam.

Key Points

1

7 dead after 20-foot wall collapses during temple festival

2

Heavy rains suspected as cause of structural failure

3

SDRF and NDRF teams complete rescue operations

4

CM Naidu assures treatment for injured

"I am deeply saddened by the death of seven devotees due to the collapse of a wall during the Chandanotsavam of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. My deepest condolences to the families of those who died in this incident due to the collapse of a wall due to heavy rains," read a post by the Chief Minister.

https://x.com/ncbn/status/1917392206366740566

He has further assured that the injured will be provided with treatment, and he is monitoring the situation, having already spoken with the District Collector and Superintendent of Police.

"I have spoken to the District Collector and SP about the situation there. I have ordered that the injured be provided with treatment. I am reviewing the situation from time to time," CM Naidu's post added.

Earlier today, Andhra Home Minister and Disaster Management Minister Anitha Vangalapudi told ANI, "This is an unfortunate incident," while she took stock of the situation.

Vinay Chan, Principal Secretary of the Endowment Department, told ANI that, prima facie, it appears that the downpour in the early morning may have affected the wall.

"So it is not appropriate for us to conclude on the reasons for the incident. Prima facie, we have noticed a downpour between 2:30 and 3:30 am in the early hours. We are investigating the incident... All the debris has been cleared...Rescue work has been concluded," Chan told ANI.

Seven people died, and four others were injured after a 20-foot-long stretch of a makeshift structure collapsed during the Chandanotsavam festival at the Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Visakhapatnam in the early hours of today.

Search and rescue was carried out by teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force, an official said.

Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
Very tragic incident 😔. Authorities must conduct safety audits of all temple structures before major festivals. We can't afford to lose lives like this during what should be joyous occasions. My prayers for the departed souls.
P
Priya M.
While the CM's response is prompt, I hope this isn't just lip service. We've seen too many such accidents during religious events. Need permanent solutions - proper infrastructure and crowd management systems.
S
Suresh V.
Heavy rains or not, temporary structures should have better safety standards. This is negligence pure and simple. The temple administration must be held accountable. Jai Andhra!
A
Ananya R.
Heartbreaking news 💔. The Chandanotsavam festival is so important for devotees. Can't imagine the trauma for families who went for darshan and faced this tragedy. Government should provide substantial compensation.
K
Karthik N.
Good that SDRF and NDRF responded quickly. But prevention is better than cure - need strict enforcement of building codes during religious events. Monsoon is coming, more such incidents could happen if we don't act now.
M
Meena S.
As a Vizag resident, I'm shocked this happened at Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple - one of our most important shrines. The endowment department must explain why temporary structures weren't rain-proofed despite weather warnings.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Your email won't be published

Disclaimer: Comments are the opinions of users and not of this website or it's staff. News stories are provided by news agencies. We do not guarantee their accuracy. Inappropriate content may be removed. By posting, you agree to our terms.

Tags:
Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu Visakhapatnam temple tragedy wall collapse Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy
You May Like!