CM Naidu orders probe and announces ex-gratia of Rs.25 lakhs

metro india news  I amaravati

Tragedy struck in the early hours of Wednesday at the historic Simhachalam Temple in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, when a section of a cement wall near the temple’s shopping complex gave way, killing seven devotees and injuring several others. The incident occurred as hundreds of worshippers gathered for the Chandana Mahotsavam festival, waiting in queue to purchase special Rs.300 darshan tickets.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed profound grief and ordered the formation of a three-member committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse and ascertain accountability.

Naidu announced Rs. 25 lakh ex-gratia to the families of the deceased. Rs. 3 lakh will be provided as compensation to the injured. One member from each bereaved family will also be offered a job on an outsourcing / contract basis within temples managed by the Endowments Department, he added.

Preliminary reports from officials indicate that heavy overnight rainfall is likely to have contributed to the weakening of the wall’s structure, leading to its collapse. Rescue operations were swiftly launched with personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Rescue Department, and local police working around the clock to extricate victims trapped under the debris. The injured were rushed to King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam for treatment.

Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Ashok Gajapathi Raju—former temple trustee, Minister Nandendla Manohar, MLAs Panchakarla Ramesh Babu and Lokam Naga Madhavi visited Simhachalam and assessed the situation and expressed solidarity with the affected families.