Large accident in Simhachalam temple in Visakhapatnam, 8 people killed due to wall collapse, 3 injured
Relief and rescue personnel have rescued many people after the accident.
Visakhapatnam: A tragic accident occurred during the Chandanotsav in the early hours of Wednesday at Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Due to heavy rains and strong winds, a recently built wall collapsed in the temple premises, which killed 8 people and injured 3 others. The dead include 5 men and 3 women. The incident spread panic among the devotees present in the temple. The teams of NDRF and SDRF reached the spot and took command of relief and rescue operations and rescued many people.
Accident occurred after heavy rains
The accident occurred at around 2:15 am on the hill of Simhachalam, when strong winds occurred after heavy rains. Meanwhile, part of a new wall made for the queue of Rs 300 tickets suddenly collapsed. 7 people died on the spot after being buried in the debris of the wall, while one person died during treatment in the hospital. The injured were immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment, where their condition is said to be stable. The rescue team recovered 7 bodies from the rubble and evacuated the injured. Rescue operations are going on in view of the possibility of more people being trapped in the debris.
Rescue operations monitored
District Collector MN Harendir Prasad and City Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi reached the spot and monitored the rescue operation. The two officials directed to speed up relief operations and provide assistance to the affected families. Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anita and Visakhapatnam MP M Sr Bharat visited the Simhachalam temple to take stock of the situation. Home Minister Anita said, ‘This wall was recently built. Its quality will be checked. The injured are undergoing treatment, and we are ensuring that they get the best medical facility.
Alternative arrangements for the convenience of devotees
After the accident, the queue of Rs 300 tickets has been diverted on the other way to protect the devotees from inconvenience. The temple administration ensured that darshan and other rituals of Chandanotsav continue without any interruption. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has expressed deep condolences on this tragic incident. He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said, ‘This incident is very sad. We are with the affected families. ‘ The Chief Minister reviewed relief and rescue operations and instructed the officials to treat the injured and provide all possible assistance to the victim families.
Dead bodies of dead brought to KGH Hospital
The bodies of the deceased have been taken to King George Hospital (KGH) of Visakhapatnam, where postmortem and other formalities are being completed. The treatment of the injured is also going on in this hospital. Home Minister Anita said that the quality of the wall and the cause of the accident will be investigated in depth. He instructed the officials not to carry out any laxity in relief operations. According to preliminary information, heavy rains and strong winds affected the stability of the wall, but the situation would be clear only after investigation of whether there was any negligence in the construction.
What is the sandalwood festival of Simhachalam temple?
Chandanotsav is a major annual festival of Simhachalam Temple, in which millions of devotees arrive to see Lord Varahalkshmi Narasimha Swami to see. On this day, the idol of God is covered with sandalwood, and devotees come from different parts of the country to be a part of this sacred ritual. This year, the temple administration had hoped about 2 lakh devotees to arrive.
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