Visakhapatnam: Eight persons were killed and several others injured after a newly constructed wall collapsed at the Simhachalam Temple in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, in the wee hours of Wednesday. The 20-foot-long stretch of the wall collapsed during the Chandanotsavam festival.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to those who have lost their loved ones and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He also announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
According to sources, the wall, located along the Rs 300 ticket queue, was reportedly built 20 days ago.
Rescue operations began immediately with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams pulling devotees out of the rubble. The injured devotees were rushed to King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam for treatment.
It is still not known why the wall collapsed.
“Preliminary, we have come to know that there was torrential downpour between 2:30 am and 3:30 am,” said Vinay Chan, principal secretary of the endowment department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, told the media.
“The downpour was accompanied by heavy winds. Heavy winds and the huge gush of water may have been responsible. The wall is also surrounded by earthen revetment and soil might have got loosened. Because of the wind, pandals fell, that might have also contributed to the loosening of soil,” he added.
All the debris has been cleared and rescue operations have been called off.
Anitha Vangalapudi, minister of home affairs and disaster management, reached the location to supervise the rescue and relief operation. The Chandanotsavam festival, or Chandan Yatra, is celebrated on April 30. It is the only time of the year when devotees can see Lord Narasimha, covered in layers of sandalwood paste.
