₹25 lakh ex gratia handed over to kin of Simhachalam wall collapse victims
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema District Collector R. Mahesh Kumar on May 5, handed over ₹25 lakh ex gratia each cheques to the family members of Patti Durga Swamy Naidu, 33, and K.M.E. Sesha Rao, 26, who were killed in the wall collapse at Simhachalam Devasthanam during the 'Chandanotsavam' festival on April 30, 2025.
The deceased were natives of Machavaram village in Ambajipeta Mandal in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema District.
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Time of India
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Simhachalam temple prepares for Giri Pradakshina on July 9
Visakhapatnam: Sri Varaha Lakshmi Nrusimha Swamy temple on Simhachalam hill is preparing for the annual Giri Pradakshina, a 32 km walk surrounding the hill shrine, on July 9. Around three lakh devotees from AP, Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh are expected to participate in the event. The event will start from the foothills and pass through areas like Paat Adavivaram, Mudusarlova, Hanumanthavaka, Jodugullapalem, Appughar, Venkojipalem, HB Colony, Muralinagar, and Madhavadhara before reaching Simhachalam. In the wake of the tragic incident during the Chandanotsavam last month, in which seven devotees were killed when a wall collapsed on the queue line, the temple management is focusing more on devotees' safety and facilities. The temple management discussed various arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual festival for the devotees. Led by temple priests TP Rajagopal and Seetharama Charyulu, a meeting was held on Friday. The executive officer V Trinatha Rao emphasised the need for appropriate arrangements given the expected turnout. The 32-km Simha Giri Pradakshina will take place throughout the city. The EO directed the temple officials to coordinate with GVMC, police, medical departments, donors, and NGOs to provide support. Mobile toilets will be installed with GVMC's assistance for sanitation. Discussions are ongoing with GVMC officials regarding electricity and drinking water facilities.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
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Wall collapse: government suspends Executive Officer of Simhachalam temple
The Government of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday placed K. Subba Rao, Deputy Collector, working as Executive Officer of the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam at Simhachalam in Visakhapatnam, under suspension on the basis of the inquiry commission's preliminary report, holding him accountable for the wall collapse during Chandanotsavam in the early hours of April 30. A G.O. (RT No. 406) to that effect was issued by G. Jayalakshmi, Special Chief Secretary (Revenue - Vigilance). It was stated that the inquiry commission informed the government that as Executive Officer, Mr. Subba Rao was responsible for all arrangements in the temple and that the temporary wall had been constructed as per his directions. Mr. Subba Rao failed to ensure that the work was supervised by the engineers properly and as per the designs, and if all safety measures were taken or not. He was, therefore, liable for disciplinary action for gross negligence and dereliction of duty, the G.O. said. Accordingly, the government ordered Mr. Subba Rao's suspension in exercise of the powers conferred by Rule 8 of the A.P. Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules of 1991. Seven persons had been killed as the wall caved in on the unsuspecting devotees when they were waiting to have darshan on the auspicious occasion of Chandanotsavam due to incessant rains that lashed overnight in the area.
Hans India
07-05-2025
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Axing posts of negligent officials indicates a serious warning
Visakhapatnam: The decision taken by the state government on Simhachalam wall collapse incident indicates a stern warning against negligent officials irrespective of the positions they hold. A week after the incident that took place at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple during the 'Chandanotsavam' festival on April 30, the state government suspended seven officials following a preliminary investigation report submitted by a three-member committee constituted to find out facts. The committee, led by Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Suresh Kumar, Elite Anti-Narcotics Group for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) director Ake Ravi Krishna and engineer-in-chief, irrigation department Venkateswara Rao, spoke to the contractors, engineers and officials concerned before submitting the report. The fatal accident that occurred for the first time at Simhachalam where scores of devotees congregated to witness 'nijarupa' darshan of Lord Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy claimed seven lives and injured a few others. Earlier, when such major incidents took place, the action used to be against either mid-level or low-level cadre. But this time, the NDA government took serious action against the Executive Officer of Simhachalam Devasthanam and other officials from endowments and tourism departments. Executive Officer of Simhachalam Devasthanam K Subba Rao, temple executive engineer DG Srinivasa Raju, junior engineer K Babji and APTDC executive engineer K Ramana and assistant engineer P Madan Mohan along with temple deputy executive engineers KSN Murthy and ABVLR Swamy were suspended over the incident. Meanwhile, contractor Lakshmana Rao, who executed the wall construction, was blacklisted and criminal proceedings were initiated along with other two officials. When enquired, the contractor told the committee members that he was in a rush to build the wall before the festival. So far, the three-member committee submitted only a preliminary report to the state government. However, with the committee set to submit a detailed report in a month's time, there is a scope for axing a few more officials' posts. Following the wall collapse mishap, the attention is not just on probing its cause in various angles but also focusing on the works related to endowments plus tourism departments that are in progress at the temple. In the meantime, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation corporator Peethala Murthy Yadav forwarded a letter to Central and state Chief Vigilance Commissioners, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and AP Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh stating that there is an apparent misuse of funds related to the project works taken up as part of the PRASAD scheme. He further mentioned in the letter that the quality of works carried out by the engineers call for a detailed scrutiny as well. In line with the PRASAD scheme, a number of works have been taken up at Simhachalam Devasthanam to the tune of Rs.54 crore. For months, these works are being carried out and are in different stages of completion. As part of it, a queue complex at Utharagoparam, a four-floored commercial-cum-kalyana mandapam complex uphill, among others, were proposed by the Devasthanam officials. Apparently, after the wall collapse incident, what needs a larger attention is not just accelerating the pending works that are in progress but also the quality of works carried out.
