The victims were reportedly standing on a special queue of Rs 300, arriving in the early hours of the morning to offer prayers during auspicious times. According to preliminary reports, it is believed that a large amount of overnight rainfall weakened the structure and led to a collapse.
Rescue operations are underway, with officials and emergency personnel working to retrieve the body from the debris. Some others were worried about being trapped and the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
This marks the second fatal accident in a temple in Andhra Pradesh in recent months. Earlier, the killing of a stampede in Tirupati during a religious event raised concerns about the safety and crowd management of major pilgrimage sites.
Authorities have ordered an investigation into the Simhachalam incident. Temple officials and local governments are under pressure, and although there are many crowds expected during the annual celebrations, how did such a mistake happen.
