Simhachalam temple wall collapse: CPI(M) seeks action against Ministerial committee for failure to ensure safety of devotees

CPI(M) demands action against Ministerial Committee for negligence at Chandanotsavam, seeking proper compensation for victims and families.

The CPI(M) district committee has sought action against the High-Level Committee of Ministers, which was formed to oversee the smooth conduct of the annual Chandanotsavam, which draws thousands of devotees every year.

A team of leaders from the party District Committee met the three-member committee, which was constituted by the government to probe into the wall collapse at Simhachalam, at the Government Circuit here on Friday, and submitted a memorandum.

The CPI(M) noted that the mishap would not have occurred had the Ministerial committee inspected the new constructions at the temple, arrangements for smooth flow of queue lines, and all aspects of safety. The festival draws devotees not only from Andhra Pradesh but also from other States of the country. The State government was also aware of this fact. The construction of a ‘sub-standard’ wall days before the festival, without a proper plan, and not following established procedures like construction of pillars was responsible for the collapse of the wall. Along with the contractor, the engineers and temple officials should also take responsibility for the mishap. Considering all these aspects, action should be taken on the Ministerial Committee, which had failed its duty.

The CPI(M) team also alleged that the government had also failed to review the arrangements for the Chandanotsavam festival from time-to-time. Alleging large-scale corruption in the PRASAD scheme works, which were taken up at Simhachalam with ₹54 crore, they felt that elders in the government must have been aware of it. They sought an inquiry into the other construction works taken up at Simhachalam in the recent past.

Saying that the compensation of ₹25 lakh paid to the victims was far from adequate, they sought that the family of each deceased person should be given ₹1 crore, and injured persons should be given ₹10 lakh and one of the dependents should be given a ‘permanent job’.

They appealed to the committee to consider their plea and take it to the notice of the government.

CPI(M) district committee secretary M. Jaggu Naidu, district secretariat members B. Ganga Rao, R.K.S.V. Kumar, P. Mani and B. Jagan and senior leaders S. Jyothiswara Rao were in the delegation, which submitted the memorandum to the committee.