Latest news with #Nijaroopa
News18
30-04-2025
- News18
Techie Couple Among Devotees Killed In Wall Collapse At Andhra Temple
The couple, who married three years ago, hailed from Chandrapalem village in Madhurawada of Visakhapatnam A techie couple are among seven devotees killed in a wall collapse during an annual festival at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Simhachalam here in the early hours of Wednesday. The officials have confirmed seven deaths as the rescue operation was completed by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the police. Initial reports had put the death toll at eight. The deceased include four men and three women. Three devotees, who were injured, have been admitted to King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam. A techie couple from the Visakhapatnam district was among the victims of the tragic accident. Pilla Uma Maheswara Rao (30) and Pilla Sailaja (26) were employed with HCL and Infosys in Hyderabad, and were working from home. The couple, who married three years ago, hailed from Chandrapalem village in Madhurawada of Visakhapatnam. Sailaja's mother, Venkat Ratna (45), and aunt G. Mahalakshmi (65) were also killed in the wall collapse. The other deceased were identified as Durgaswamy Naidu (33) and K. Manikantha (28), both residents of East Godavari district, and Yedla Venkat Rao (45) of Visakhapatnam. The incident occurred around 3.15 a.m. when devotees were queued up to buy tickets for darshan during Chandanotsavam, an annual festival. The devotees were waiting to buy Rs 300 tickets for 'Nijaroopa darshanam'. During the annual festival, the thick sandalwood covering on the idol will be removed. The rituals were to begin in the early hours of the day. The NDRF personnel rushed to the spot and launched the rescue operation with the help of police and other personnel. Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, Visakhapatnam district Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, and Police Commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi supervised the rescue operations. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, IT Minister Nara Lokesh and other ministers expressed shock over the incident. The Chief Minister ordered a probe by a three-member committee. He also announced Rs 25 lakh ex gratia each for the families of the deceased and Rs 3 lakh each to the injured. IANS) First Published: April 30, 2025, 19:57 IST
NDTV
30-04-2025
- NDTV
Techie Couple Among Devotees Killed In Andhra Temple Wall Collapse
Vishakhapatnam: A techie couple are among seven devotees killed in a wall collapse during an annual festival at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Simhachalam here in the early hours of Wednesday. The officials have confirmed seven deaths as the rescue operation was completed by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the police. Initial reports had put the casualty at eight. The deceased include four men and three women. Three devotees, who were injured, have been admitted to King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam. A techie couple from the Visakhapatnam district was among the victims of the tragic accident. Pilla Uma Maheswara Rao (30) and Pilla Sailaja (26) were employed with HCL and Infosys in Hyderabad, and were working from home. The couple, who married three years ago, hailed from Chandrapalem village in Madhurawada of Visakhapatnam. Sailaja's mother, Venkat Ratna (45), and aunt G. Mahalakshmi (65) were also killed in the wall collapse. The other deceased were identified as Durgaswamy Naidu (33) and K. Manikantha (28), both residents of East Godavari district, and Yedla Venkat Rao (45) of Visakhapatnam. The incident occurred around 3.15 a.m. when devotees were queued up to buy tickets for darshan during Chandanotsavam, an annual festival. The devotees were waiting to buy Rs 300 tickets for 'Nijaroopa darshanam'. During the annual festival, the thick sandalwood covering on the idol will be removed. The rituals were to begin in the early hours of the day. The NDRF personnel rushed to the spot and launched the rescue operation with the help of police and other personnel. Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, Visakhapatnam district Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, and Police Commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi supervised the rescue operations. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, IT Minister Nara Lokesh and other ministers expressed shock over the incident. The Chief Minister ordered a probe by a three-member committee. He also announced Rs 25 lakh ex gratia each for the families of the deceased and Rs 3 lakh each to the injured.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Simhachalam wall collapse: Naidu announces ₹25 lakh ex-gratia to kin of deceased; forms three-member committee to probe incident
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.
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Business Standard
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
CM announces ₹25 lakh ex gratia for 7 killed in Andhra temple wall collapse
Seven people were killed and several others injured when a rain-soaked wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam, here, in the early hours of Wednesday, the government said. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow and said he had spoken to the Collector and SP. The injured persons were receiving treatment, he said. "Deeply saddened by the death of seven devotees at Simhachalam.... my condolences to the families. I'm closely monitoring the situation and have ordered continuous review and support for victims," said Naidu in a post on 'X'. According to government sources only one person sustained injuries apart from those killed. The Chief Minister, who reviewed the situation via teleconference, announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 3 lakh each to the injured, an official release said adding an outsourcing job in temples under the Endowments Department will be provided to a family member of each victim. He also ordered an inquiry into the incident by a three-member committee. Reacting to the incident Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X said Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a wall in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. PM Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy also condoled the deaths. State Home Minister V Anitha said preliminary reports indicated that the wall collapse at the temple was triggered by soil loosening due to heavy rains in the area. The annual Chandanotsavam at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Simhachalam witnessed both grandeur and grief on Wednesday, as thousands gathered to witness the Nijaroopa darshanam of the Lord. The wall collapsed on the Rs 300 ticket queue line near the shopping complex on the ghat road from Simhagiri Bus Stand at around 3 am. Heavy overnight rains and strong winds are suspected to have loosened the soil, causing the structure to fall, Anitha told reporters. Anitha, present at the temple during the incident, visited the site immediately. We were all drenched in rain. As I came out of the temple, I was informed about the incident. The injured were rushed to hospital, she said, emphasizing that there was no negligence in the rescue response. An official from the temple said that the cause appears to be structural failure triggered by rains, but a detailed probe is underway. Endowments Minister Ramanarayana Reddy called the tragedy unfortunate and announced stronger safety protocols. Rescue operations are underway, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and state authorities pressed into service. According to State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel, eight devotees were trapped under the debris, and seven bodiesthree women and four menwere extricated during the rescue operation. Former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock and urged for best medical support to the injured and compensation to the victims' families. The injured have been shifted to a hospital, officials added. Earlier this year, six devotees waiting to collect tokens for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills, were killed in a stampede in Tirupati.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
8 killed as wall collapses at temple in Andhra Pradesh's Simhachalam
At least eight people were killed and four others injured when a wall adjacent to a queue line collapsed on the devotees at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Simhachalam in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam in the early hours of Wednesday, officials said. The incident took place at around 2:30 am when devotees were waiting in line for 'Nijaroopa' darshan of the deity on the occasion of the annual Chandanotsavam festival. Following the collapse, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with local officials, launched immediate rescue and relief operations. Soon after, state home minister Vangalapudi Anitha rushed to the spot of the incident. She told reporters that according to preliminary reports, the newly-built temple wall was soaked with water due to previous night's heavy rainfall, adding that pressure from the devotees led to the wall's collapse. 'They were standing in the queue line for special darshan after paying ₹300 per ticket. The wall is adjacent to a shopping complex on the way from Simhagiri Bus Stand—suddenly gave way and collapsed due to loosening of soil because of heavy rains in the area,' she said. Apart from Anitha, Visakhapatnam District Collector Harendhira Prasad, and Commissioner of Police Shankha Brata Bagchi also arrived at the temple to oversee the rescue efforts. Prasad said the victims included three women and they were yet to be identified. 'The bodies of the victims and injured were shifted to King George Hospital, Visakkhapatnam,' he added. Every year, during the Chandanotsavam festival, deity Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is revealed to devotees in his true form (Nijaroopa), without the usual sandalwood paste that typically covers the idol throughout the year. Thousands of devotees had already gathered at Simhachalam for the rare sight. The deity was ceremoniously awakened at 1:00 am with a Suprabhata Seva. Following this, the sandalwood paste was carefully removed from the idol using special silver scrapers. Devotees then witnessed the deity's Nijaroopa Darshanam, after which special Abhishekam rituals were performed. Following the Vedic rituals, hereditary temple trustee Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju and his family were given the first darshan of the deity and had the honor of offering the initial sandalwood paste. Later, Minister for Revenue Anagani Satya Prasad presented traditional silk garments to the deity on behalf of the state government.
