Visakhapatnam, April 30, 2025
A serious accident took place at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Seven individuals were killed and some others injured when a temple wall collapsed. The incident took place during the ongoing *Chandanotsavam* festival, when a 20-foot-long section of the wall gave way. The injured have been admitted to the hospital, and rescue operations are still underway.
The incident occurred between 3:30 and 4:00 AM on Wednesday. At the time, a large number of devotees were present at the temple. NDRF and SDRF teams are on the scene, and relief efforts are progressing rapidly. Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha also reached the site and stated, “This is a very unfortunate incident. The government has intensified the rescue operation.”
SDRF personnel reported that they immediately began the rescue operation after the incident and sent the injured to the hospital. Initial assessments suggest that the wall may have collapsed due to heavy rainfall.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the tragedy. He posted on X, “I am deeply saddened by the death of seven devotees due to the wall collapse during *Chandanotsavam*. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. I have spoken to the district collector and SP to get an update on the situation and have instructed that proper medical treatment be provided to the injured. I am continuously monitoring the situation.”
