8 killed as temple wall collapses during festival in Andhra Pradesh

At least eight people were killed and several others injured on Wednesday after a wall collapsed during festival celebrations at a Hindu temple in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, officials confirmed.

The tragedy occurred during the annual Chandanotsavam festival at the Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Visakhapatnam, approximately 393 kilometers northeast of the state capital, Amaravati.

According to officials, a 20-foot-long wall gave way due to heavy rain and strong winds, which had weakened the structure. The collapsing wall buried several devotees who were waiting in a queue to enter the temple.

“All the debris has been cleared,” said Vinay Chan, a senior local government official.

Rescue efforts were launched immediately after the incident, with personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed to assist and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.

Authorities have ordered an investigation into the collapse to determine the exact cause and to prevent similar incidents in the future.