A devastating incident unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, as a wall collapsed during the annual Chandanotsavam festival, killing seven devotees, including a young techie couple. The collapse occurred around 3:15 a.m. while hundreds queued for darshan.
The deceased include Pilla Uma Maheswara Rao (30) and Pilla Sailaja (26), a married couple from Chandrapalem village in Madhurawada, Visakhapatnam. Rao was employed with HCL and Sailaja with Infosys, both working remotely from their hometown. Married for just three years, the couple had returned home to participate in the sacred festival.
Also among the deceased were Sailaja’s mother Venkat Ratna (45) and her aunt G. Mahalakshmi (65). Others who tragically lost their lives include Durgaswamy Naidu (33) and K. Manikantha (28) from East Godavari district, and Yedla Venkat Rao (45) from Visakhapatnam.
The accident took place as devotees waited in line to purchase Rs 300 tickets for Nijaroopa Darshanam, a special event during which the sandalwood covering on the deity is ceremoniously removed. The collapse led to panic and chaos amid the tightly packed crowd.
Rescue efforts were swiftly launched by personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, and local administration. Three devotees sustained injuries and were rushed to King George Hospital for treatment.
Senior officials, including Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, and Police Commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi, oversaw the relief efforts. An investigation has been ordered by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who also announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh for the families of each of the deceased and Rs 3 lakh for the injured.
The Chief Minister, along with Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. The CM has directed the formation of a three-member committee to probe the incident and report on any lapses in safety or crowd management.
Chandanotsavam: Faith Meets Fatal Flaws in Crowd Control
The Chandanotsavam festival, observed annually at the ancient Simhachalam temple, draws tens of thousands of devotees. The demand for darshan tickets often results in overcrowding and infrastructure strain. This tragedy raises serious questions about temple safety protocols, especially during high-footfall religious events.
As the temple community mourns the loss of its devotees, this incident stands as a grim reminder of the urgent need for systemic reforms in managing religious gatherings. From better structural audits to improved crowd control systems, the safety of pilgrims must become a priority.
Our thoughts are with the families affected by this tragic incident.
