A religious gathering turned tragic in the early hours of Wednesday as a wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, killing eight and injuring four. Thousands of devotees had gathered for the sacred Nijaroopa Darshanam during the annual Chandanotsavam festival when the incident occurred around 2:30 am. Officials said the wall, adjacent to a shopping complex, gave way due to heavy rain that had loosened the soil, combined with the pressure of the crowd.

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, District Collector Harendhira Prasad, and senior police officials rushed to the scene. Rescue operations were led by the NDRF. The victims, including three women, were taken to King George Hospital. The revered festival includes removing sandalwood paste from the idol for a rare public viewing, drawing massive crowds annually. A solemn celebration was marred by disaster, raising concerns over safety at mass religious events.