Seven people, including a couple and two of their relatives, were killed when a rain-soaked wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam here in the early hours of Wednesday, as an annual ritual at the famous north Andhra shrine turned into a scene of both grandeur and grief.
The government said seven people died after the wall collapsed on the Rs 300 ticket queue line near the shopping complex on the ghat road from Simhagiri bus stand at around 3 am.
Opposition Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party blamed the government for 'negligence', which resulted in the tragic incident.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, among others, expressed grief over the incident.
Both the Centre and the state governments announced ex gratia respectively to the families of those killed in the incident.
State Home Minister V Anitha, who was present at the site, said preliminary reports indicated that the wall collapse at the temple was triggered by soil loosening due to heavy rains in the area.
According to government sources, one person sustained injuries.
The couple which died in the mishap was believed to be in the IT profession.
CM Naidu expressed deep sorrow and said he had spoken to the Collector and SP and directed for treatment be provided to the injured.
'Deeply saddened by the death of seven devotees at Simhachalam....my condolences to the families. I'm closely monitoring the situation and have ordered continuous review and support for victims,' said Naidu in a post on X.
The CM, who reviewed the situation via teleconference, announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 3 lakh each to the injured, an official release said.
An outsourcing job in temples under the Endowments Department will be provided to a family member of each victim.
Naidu also ordered an inquiry into the incident by a three-member committee of senior officials.
The committee members are -- Irrigation chief engineer Venkateswar Rao, Municipal Administration principal secretary S Suresh Kumar and senior IPS officer Ake Ravi Krishna.
The CM reviewed the incident at his Undavalli residence with DGP Harish Kumar Gupta and other senior officials. They apprised the CM of the help being extended to the victims.
In her condolence message on X, President Murmu said: 'Saddened by the loss of lives including those of women in a wall collapse incident in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families.'
'May the injured recover soon,' she said.
Modi mourned the victims.
'Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a wall in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.'
He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased person and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy also condoled the deaths.
Earlier, the annual Chandanotsavam at the temple witnessed both grandeur and grief, as thousands gathered to witness the Nijaroopa (original appearance) darshanam of the Lord, even as tragedy struck in the form of the wall collapse.
The shrine is dedicated to Lord Narasimha Swamy, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The deity's idol is covered with sandalwood paste all through the year and revealed only once a year which is celebrated as Chandanotsavam.
Home Minister Anitha said heavy overnight rains and strong winds are suspected to have loosened the soil, causing the wall to give away.
Anitha, present at the temple during the incident, visited the site immediately. There was no negligence in the rescue response, she asserted.
An official from the temple said that the cause appears to be structural failure triggered by rains, but a detailed probe is underway.
Endowments Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy called the tragedy unfortunate and announced stronger safety protocols.
Rescue operations were carried out by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and state authorities were also pressed into service.
According to State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel, eight devotees were trapped under the debris, and seven bodies--three women and four men were extricated during the rescue operation.
Speaking to the media after visiting the residence of a group of victims, YSRCP Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy blamed the state government, alleging that sheer negligence has claimed the innocent lives of the devotees as the wall that collapsed killing the devotees, was constructed without the prescribed format nor were tenders called for.
The former CM demanded severe action against those responsible for the tragic incident and an ex gratia of Rs 1 crore each to the kin of the family of the deceased.
Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan expressed sorrow over the death of the devotees, adding that the disaster striking during Chandanaostavam is unfortunate.
Earlier this year, six devotees waiting to collect tokens for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills in Tirupati were killed in a stampede.