Visakhapatnam: The collapse of a new retaining wall at the Simhachalam Temple, which killed seven devotees on Wednesday, led to a series of charges from multiple sources.
The project is funded by the central government’s Prasad (the revival and spiritually enhanced driving force of pilgrimage), and the foundation for the project was laid out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s online model.
The 10-foot-tall and 70-foot-long fly brick wall is ready four days before the festival begins Tuesday.
Sources of the temple indicate that the contractor deviated from the original design approved by the Prasad plan.
Opposition leader and Jana Sena leader Peethala Murthy Yadav said development works at Simhachalam Hill were commissioned in the tourism sector’s Prasada program during the YSRC government. These work is planned to be completed within 12 months before May 2024.
The wall was built to provide separate queues for different ticket categories during the Chandanotsavam festival and designated a free Darshan area along with Rs 300 and Rs 1,000 Darshan tickets.
According to preliminary reports, rainwater flowing from the upper part of the temple complex erodes the soil near the walls, weakening the structure. The collapse coincides with the temple's annual Chandanotsavam festival, during which special queues have been made for various ticket categories.
“Improper construction technology and water management problems seem to be the main cause of the collapse. The walls are built by stacking fly ash bricks directly on the ground without proper foundations and pillars. The walls are neither plastered nor adequately dry,''
Contractor Lakshmana Rao, who carried out the construction of the wall, told the investigative team that he was forced to rush to build the wall, starting four days before work began. “I have informed them that it is not feasible to build a wall within a few days, but the Ministry of Donations and Tourism forced me to do the work in Jiffy,” he claimed.
The Simhachalam temple is built in a U-shaped shape and its traditional drainage system supplies water through an underground system. Excess water will flow through the stairs. However, recent modifications to the Temple Complex have undermined this natural flow.
The collapsed wall is part of a T-shaped structure that replaces the original staircase that connects the bus bracket to the main temple building.
Sources familiar with the temple design said Vedic priests had suggested to temple authorities about erections on the walls, citing concerns about possible water flow issues, but their words were ignored.
They stressed that the project is part of the centrally funded Prasad program. The tenders were called in 2023 after the detailed project report was approved in December 2022. The contract was reportedly awarded to an engineer who had previously worked at Rushikonda Palace during his tenure in the YSRC government.
The Centre has developed funds for Simhachalam Devasthanam under the Prasad program. DPR was completed in 2021 and sanctions were imposed on the works on December 14, 2022. A tender was convened in 2023. This work was given to the contractor Lakshman Rao, but the implementation of the master plan was implemented due to a lack of coordination between the donor agency and the tourism sector. This work was postponed due to some changes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for these works through virtual mode on March 7, 2024.
Jana Sena leader Peethala Murthy Yadav accused Ramana of negligence by irrigation department official. Ramana, who has been in the tourism sector for five years, also participated in controversial projects such as the Rushikonda Palace Green Resort, he said. He allegedly exaggerated the renovation of the Yatra Niwas of Rs 5 crore.
He also criticized Visakha Simhachalam Devasthanam Ee Srinivasa Raju for his negligence and noted that despite many violations, he remained in the position for more than a decade. He wanted to know whether to follow the construction protocol and called on Vinay Chand, chief secretary who oversees the work.
