Simhachalam wall collapse: Naidu announces ₹25 lakh ex-gratia to kin of deceased; forms three-member committee to probe incident

Rescue operation underway after a rain-soaked wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, at Simhachalam in Visakhapatnam, Wednesday, April 30, 2025
| Photo Credit: PTI

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced an ex-gratia of ₹25 lakh each as ex-gratia to the families of the devotees, who died in the wall collapse atop Simhachalam Hill in Visakhapatnam, early Wednesday (April 30, 2025). The devotees were standing in a queue line for the ‘Nijaroopa’ darshan of the presiding deity Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy on the occasion of annual ‘Chandanotsavam’ festival.

He has also said that one member from each family will be employed on an outsourcing basis in the temples under the purview of the Endowments Department. Similarly, ₹3 lakh will be paid as assistance to those who are injured, the Chief Minister said and assured the affected families that the State Government will certainly stand by them.

Mr. Naidu expressed deep shock after coming to know about the wall collapse killing seven devotees and also injuring several others, who were standing in ₹300 queue line to witness the ‘Nijaroopa darshan’ of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy on the occasion of ‘Chandanotsavam’.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu immediately organised a teleconference with the Endowments Minister, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, in-charge Minister for Vizag district, Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, Home Minister V. Anitha and Revenue Minister A. Satya Prasad, Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, and the trustee of the Simhachalam temple, former Union Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

The Chief Minister also ordered that the debris be removed immediately so that no inconvenience is caused to the devotees. He also directed the officials to provide emergency medical services to the injured in the incident. Mr Naidu also ordered an inquiry by a three-man committee into the incident.

As thousands of devotees are likely to gather for the darshan of the deity, the Chief Minister directed the officials to take necessary safety measures to ensure that the devotees do not have any inconvenience or do not panic.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that former CM and the president of YSRC Party would come to the city and visit the family members of the deceased in the afternoon and later in the day CM Chandrababu Naidu is also schedule to visit the family members in the city.