Visakhapatnam, April 30, 2025
A fatal accident took place at the world-famous Simhachalam temple in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, during the **Chandanotsavam festival**, one of the largest religious festivals with thousands of pilgrims visiting the shrine every year.
A 20-foot-long wall parallel to the queue line where devotees were waiting collapsed all of a sudden. In this, eight people were killed, of which three were women,and many more were hurt badly.
The officials said that the wall might have become weak overnight under heavy rains . There were a number of people around the wall, who were waiting to enter the temple and pray, when the wall fell over them all of a sudden.
**Rescue teams**, police, and medical authorities arrived on time. They pulled individuals from the debris and transported hurt individuals to nearby hospitals. Doctors are doing their level best to save hurt individuals.
**Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu** mourned the accident. He said the government would give financial help to the families of the deceased and ensure the injured are given proper and free treatment.
The temple compound has now been shut off for safety inspection, and the authorities are probing an inquiry into how the wall collapsed. Citizens are also questioning why proper safety measures were not implemented at the time of such a massive festival.
The Chandanotsavam festival is one of the most important days at the temple, when the idol of Lord Narasimha is unveiled to the public after being covered with sandalwood paste. Pilgrims from all over the state and country visit this sacred ritual.
The government has promised that it will check all safety arrangements at temples and public places to ensure that such accidents will not happen again.
