Seven people are murdered when a wall collapses at a temple in Simhachalam, Andhra Pradesh

At the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam, Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam, a wall next to a line of people fell on the worshippers in the early hours of Wednesday, killing at least seven people and injuring four more, according to officials. An eighth victim of the wall fall was discovered alive and is presently in the hospital, fighting for their life.

During the annual Chandanotsavam festival, devotees were lining up for the deity's "Nijaroopa" darshan at around 2:30 am when the tragedy occurred. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local authorities immediately began rescue and relief efforts after the collapse. Vangalapudi Anitha, the state home minister, hurried to the scene of the tragedy shortly after.

According to early reports, the freshly constructed temple wall was drenched with water from the intense rain that fell the night before, she informed reporters, adding that the wall collapsed as a result of pressure from the devotees. They had paid ₹300 for each ticket and were waiting in line for special darshan. On the route from Simhagiri Bus Stand, the wall next to a shopping center abruptly gave way and crumbled because the earth became loose from the area's intense rainfall, she added.