64% of Simhachalam temple redevelopment works are completed so far, says Endowments Minister

Simhachalam temple redevelopment under supervision of Tourism and Endowment Departments, with 64% completion; Minister expresses sorrow over wall collapse.

Simhachalam temple redevelopment works are being carried out under the supervision of both the Tourism and the Endowment Departments, and about 64% works were completed so far, said Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy while expressing shock and sorrow over the loss of lives of seven devotees in the wall collapse incident.

Addressing media at his home at Santhapeta in Nellore on Wednesday, he said, “On the occasion of Chandanotsavam, temple darshan began from 2 a.m. on Wednesday. Due to heavy rain accompanied by strong winds, the rainwater flowed down from the hills causing the collapse of the newly-built wall. Immediate relief efforts have been initiated at the scene.”

The Union government is providing financial assistance to the State government for the development of famous temples at Simhachalam, Annavaram, Srisailam and Vijayawada under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme. The Union Ministry of Tourism had sanctioned ₹58.04 crore for the development at Simhachalam in 2022-23.

“The development works worth ₹31 crore have been completed at Simhachalam, however, the bills for ₹14 crore were paid till now. The works were going on at a slow pace due to delay in payments from the Centre. We have not yet inspected the quality of the ongoing works to ascertain the reason behind the wall collapse incident,” Mr. Ramanarayana Reddy told The Hindu.

“The government has constituted a three-member committee, headed by Special Chief Secretary Suresh Kumar, to probe the wall collapse incident and further action will be taken based on the investigation report. The investigation committee includes an Inspector General and an Engineer-in-Chief,” he informed.

The Minister further said, “As Chandanotsavam has been recognised as a government festival, Revenue Minister, Home Minister and I, as well as former Union Minister and Temple Trustee P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, have been supervising the arrangements for almost two months. Except for this unfortunate incident, everything went smoothly at the annual event.”

Expressing condolences to the families of the deceased persons, Visakhapatnam District In-charge Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy said, “We are providing better treatment to the injured. Although the authorities have been working hard for months, this incident happened due to untimely rain. The government will take steps to ensure such incidents do not recur.”