In a devastating incident during the annual Chandanotsavam festival, eight devotees, including five women, lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when a wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The tragedy occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, around 2:30 AM, as thousands gathered for the 'Nijaroopa Darshan' of the deity.

According to preliminary reports, the 20-foot-long wall, constructed approximately 20 days prior, collapsed due to soil loosening caused by heavy overnight rainfall. The wall was adjacent to the ₹300 special queue line, where devotees had assembled for early morning rituals. The sudden collapse led to chaos, with debris trapping several individuals

Rescue operations were promptly initiated by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local authorities. The injured were swiftly transported to King George Hospital for medical treatment. Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, along with district officials, visited the site to oversee relief efforts and assess the situation

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed profound grief over the incident, extending condolences to the bereaved families and assuring comprehensive support. He has directed officials to provide the best possible medical care to the injured and to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

The Chandanotsavam festival is a significant annual event attracting lakhs of devotees. This tragedy has cast a shadow over the celebrations, prompting calls for stringent safety measures during large-scale religious gatherings.