Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragic wall collapse at the Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, which claimed eight lives and left four others injured during the Chandanotsavam festival.
In a post on X, PM Modi offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He also announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a wall in Visakhapatnam. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon,” the Prime Minister wrote.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when a 20-foot-long temporary structure collapsed, reportedly following a heavy downpour between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m. According to Vinay Chan, Principal Secretary of the Endowment Department, investigations are ongoing, and it is too early to determine the exact cause.
Rescue operations by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have concluded, with all debris cleared from the site.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu also expressed grief over the incident, stating that he is personally monitoring the situation and has directed officials to ensure the best medical care for the injured.
Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy called the incident heartbreaking and urged the government to provide full support to the affected families. He emphasized the need for comprehensive assistance to those injured and to the families who lost their loved ones during the religious gathering.
