Botcha demands judicial probe into wall collapse at Simhachalam temple

Botcha Satyanarayana demands judicial inquiry into temple wall collapse, blames government for negligence, seeks compensation for victims' families.

Demanding a judicial inquiry into the wall collapse at Simhachalam temple, which claimed seven lives, Leader of the Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council and Botcha Satyanarayana sought that the ‘High-level Committee’ constituted for the proper conduct of the Chandanotsavam should own up responsibility.

Addressing the media at the YSRCP office on Thursday, Mr. Satyanarayana said that the normal practice was to make all arrangements ahead of the festival, keeping the heavy influx of devotees in view.

“The government is interested in publicity only and not the safety and security of devotees. Shirking their responsibility, the officials were content with attending to the VIPs. No attempt was made to streamline the devotees,” he alleged.

Mr. Satyanarayana said that former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had arrived in Visakhapatnam immediately after the incident and met the victims’ families. He also extended ₹2 lakh to the families of the victims on behalf of the party.

“The government should pay compensation as demanded by the families of the victims,” he said.

The YSRCP leader recalled that the ‘High-Level Committee’ comprising five Ministers reviewed the arrangements. They had assured that common devotees would not face any inconvenience. “On the contrary, the wall collapse claimed seven lives. These five Ministers should own up responsibility for the deaths.