Visakhapatnam: The preliminary report submitted by a three-member commission investigating the recent wall collapse at Simhachalam temple during the Chandana Utsavam has revealed alarming lapses in construction standards and administrative oversight. The incident, which occurred on April 30 during heavy rains, resulted in the deaths of seven devotees.
The committee, constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government and led by Municipal Administration Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar, IPS officer A.K. Ravi Krishna (Eagle Division), and Engineer-in-Chief M. Venkateswara Rao, submitted its report to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu within the mandated 72-hour timeframe.
Key findings in the report state that the collapsed wall had been hastily constructed just a week before the event, without a proper foundation or engineering design. The panel observed that the wall lacked weep holes for drainage, which led to waterlogging and increased load during the rainfall. The absence of a solid base and inadequate planning were directly responsible for the collapse.
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The report further confirmed that the wall was constructed under the PRASAD scheme, with permissions rushed through without necessary inspections or adherence to safety protocols. The commission concluded that neither the strength of the wall nor the safety of devotees was evaluated prior to the event.
Holding the temple’s Executive Officer, engineering staff, officials from the Tourism Corporation, and contractor Lakshman Rao accountable, the commission recommended strict action against all those responsible for the negligence.
The government had constituted the committee immediately after the incident, directing it to provide a factual and timely report. The tragic collapse has raised serious concerns about infrastructure quality and administrative oversight at major religious events in the state.