The tragic Incident at Simhachalam Sri Varaha Lakshmi NarasimhaSwamy Temple during the Chandanotsavam festival claimed the lives of seven devotees, including four from a single family. The cause: a recently constructed wall collapsed, crushing devotees who had come for the rare “NijaroopaDarshanam” of Lord Appanna.
A Wall Built In Just Four Days:
It has now come to light that the wall was constructed hastily just four days before the festival. In a viral video, contractor Lakshman Rao admitted he had expressed his inability to complete the wall in such a short time but was pressured by officials from the Endowments and Tourism departments to finish the work. He revealed he completed it under duress, a critical failure in safety and governance that led to the disaster.
Preliminary Report: Clear Signs of Negligence:
The three-member fact-finding committee probing the incident has already highlighted major lapses:
No formal approval for wall construction.
No adherence to structural or religious guidelines.
Lack of coordination among departments.
Total administrative negligence.
Ministers’ Committee – Only for Appearances?
Despite the government forming a five-member ministers’ committee to oversee Chandanotsavam arrangements, the glaring question remains—what exactly did they monitor? For five days prior to the festival, this committee was supposed to ensure all preparations met safety standards. If they had indeed thoroughly inspected the arrangements, how did a newly constructed and unstable wall escape their notice?
Why was a queue line allowed to be routed directly beside a wall built in just four days, without proper permissions or consultation with temple priests or Agama experts?
Double Standards in Accountability:
This incident once again exposes the troubling pattern in Indian governance: when things go well, politicians quickly take credit, appearing in front of cameras and celebrating success. But when things go wrong—especially tragic failures—blame is swiftly shifted onto bureaucrats and technical staff.
The home minister herself admitted not knowing whether the wall was made of concrete, fly ash, or bricks—a shocking statement given the wall collapsed under her committee’s oversight. Shouldn’t the committee be held equally, if not more, accountable?
Yet, the focus of the inquiry appears directed only at departmental officials. Families of the victims, locals, and devotees are demanding clarity—will the ministers who oversaw the preparations be questioned too? Or are they above scrutiny?
