Latest news with #Chandanotsavam
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Simhachalam Giri Pradakshina to attract lakhs of devotees
: The port city is gearing up for the highly anticipated Simhachalam Giri Pradakshina, a spiritual walk of devotion that attracts lakhs of devotees every year. The event, which will take place on Wednesday, involves a 32 km walk around the Simhachalam hill, starting and ending at Tholipavancha, the foothill of Simhachalam. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The route passes through various locations, including Adavivaram, Central Prison, Mudasarlova, Health City, Hanumanthawaka, Venkojipalem, HB Colony, Muralinagara, Madhavadhara, NSTL, Gopalapatnam, Prahladapuram, and Gosala. The district administration and temple management are expecting around five to six lakh devotees to participate in the event, and extensive arrangements have been made to ensure their safety and convenience. Around 3,000 police personnel from various districts, including the city police commissionerate, Anakapalli, Alluri Sitarama Raju district, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam, have been deployed for security and traffic management duties. The spiritual walk is an act of pure devotion, with devotees mostly walking barefoot and chanting Lord Vishnu's name throughout the night. The district collector, Harendira Prasad, has stated that arrangements have been made for around six lakh people, including 35 medical camps and 10 ambulances. The devotees will be allowed to have a holy bath at the Appughar area, with 50 expert swimmers and a few boats stationed in the waters for safety. Following a tragic wall collapse incident during the Chandanotsavam in April this year, which resulted in the deaths of seven devotees, and a shed collapse a couple of days ago, the district administration and temple management have taken extra precautions to ensure the safety of the devotees. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Mobile toilets, drinking water facilities, medical camps, and temporary shelters have been set up along the 32 km route. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is focused on street lighting and sanitation to ensure the safety and hygiene of the devotees. Various voluntary organizations are involved in community service by setting up Prasadam, Annadanam stalls, water, buttermilk, and refreshments. The city police commissioner, Sankabrata Bagchi, has stated that the entire route will be under CCTV surveillance, linked to the command control centre. Devotees can rest at the holding points, and if they need any help, they can contact the police or use the Astram App. With these arrangements in place, the Simhachalam Giri Pradakshina is expected to be a successful and memorable event for the devotees.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ganta faults Simhachalam temple officials for shed collapse ahead of ‘Giri Pradakshina'
Bheemunipatnam MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao on Monday (July 7) opined that officials of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Simhachalam should own responsibility for the collapse of a shed under construction at Simhachalam on Saturday. The MLA was visiting the site on Monday. Expressing disappointment at the temple officials for failing to supervise the work and trying to blame the contractor for the collapse, he said the annual festivals of 'Chandanotsavam' and 'Giri Pradakshina' draw thousands of devotees to the temple every year. A wall under construction on the Simhachalam Hill collapsed during the Chandanotsavam in April this year, causing the death of seven devotees. The engineering officials, who were supposed to supervise the work of the contractor, had shirked their responsibility and squarely put the blame on the contractor for the wall collapse. Now, the collapse of the shed, being constructed at the foothill for devotees to rest after the 32-km trek during the 'Giri Pradakshina', scheduled for July 9, was an indication of the negligence of the officials. Mr. Srinivasa Rao said the damage would have been unprecedented had the accident occurred on the day of Giri Pradakshina, as an estimated five lakh devotees were expected to participate in the festival. He said the feasibility of constructing a 'permanent shed' at the 'Tholi Pavancha' (first step lead to the hill) would be studied to avoid construction of temporary shed every year. Corporator PV Narasimham was present. Door-to-door survey The MLA conducted a door-to-door survey at Kapudibba at 98th Ward of GVMC and interacted with the householders as part of 'Suparipalanalo Mundadugu' programme of the government. He asked them whether they were receiving the welfare schemes of the government and assured them that TDR bonds would soon be issued to those whose lands were acquired for the BRTS roads in the past. He said he had already apprised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Minister for Municipal Administration P. Narayana in this regard. The TDR bonds would be issued once the five-member committee, appointed by the government, gives its report on the issue. He added that a total of 12,149 constructions were regularised in the first phase as part of providing a solution to the 'pancha gramalu' problem. A solution would be worked out for the vacant land, farm land and other land under 'pancha gramalu' (Simhachalam devasthanam lands).
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- New Indian Express
Shed collapses at Andhra's Simhachalam temple, none hurt
VISAKHAPATNAM: A temporary shed under construction near Tholipavancha along the Giri Pradakshina route at The Simhachalam Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple experienced a collapse on Saturday, occurring just days before the annual Giri Pradakshina set for July 9. Thankfully, there were no injuries since no devotees were present at the time. Officials indicated that the shed fell during preparation activities. Witnesses reported that the structure failed due to inadequate support unable to sustain the weight of iron sheets. Visakhapatnam District Collector MN Harendhira Prasad, during a press conference at the Collectorate, stated, 'The sheds are being constructed for the upcoming Giri Pradakshina. One of the sheds slipped while workers were securing it.' When questioned about the safety protocols and the contractor responsible, the Collector replied, 'All details concerning the incident, including the contractor involved and the safety measures implemented, will be thoroughly investigated.' Authorities have been instructed to examine and assess all temporary structures to prevent similar incidents during the festival, which attracts lakhs of pilgrims each year. This incident follows a previous safety issue at the temple during Chandanotsavam, where a section of a wall collapsed, resulting in the death of eight devotees. The successive mishaps have raised concerns about the safety standards for large religious gatherings.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Hans India
Ahead of ‘Giri Pradakshina,' some temporary tents fall flat at Simhachalam
Visakhapatnam: Even as arrangements for the annual festival 'Giri Pradakshina' at Simhachalam are going on in full swing, some of the tents facilitated temporarily gave away on Saturday. In order to provide shelter to devotees arriving for the festival, the Devasthanam installed temporary tents with the support of iron poles. However, some of them gave away, resulting in the flattening of a few tents. According to the temple officials, the incident happened while levelling the ground with an excavator. In the process, the vehicle got in contact with some of the poles, collapsing the tents erected with their support. Recently, the Simhachalam Devasthanam engaged a contractor to install the tents for the festival. The exercise has been in progress for the past few days. Lakhs of devotees are expected to take part in 'Giri Pradakshina' covering a 32-km stretch. Traditionally, the trek commences from 'Tholipavancha' downhill where people break coconuts, marking their onward journey. To provide convenience to those arriving at Tholipavancha, the temple authorities erected temporary tents. But, some of them gave away while installing as they came in contact with the excavator that was on the move. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident as people were not present at that point of time. For the past few days, the city has been witnessing rain. Every year, it rains during 'Giri Pradakshina.' However, keeping the tents' collapse in view, the temple officials decided to get rid of all of them and take measures to ensure that the major festival is organised incident-free. This year, Giri Pradakshina is scheduled on July 9. As part of it, lakhs of devotees are expected to circumambulate the hill on 'Aashada pournami.' It may be recalled that a wall collapsed during 'Chandanotsavam', claiming seven lives.
India Gazette
23-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
RTC bus enroute Visakhapatnam collides with lorry on national highway, eight injured
Anakapalli (Andhra Pradesh) [India], June 23 (ANI): An RTC bus en route to Visakhapatnam from Narsipatnam met with an accident near Bayyavaram in Andhra Pradesh on the national highway. The bus collided with a lorry in front of it, resulting in injuries to eight people, including the driver. As per the information, no casualties were reported in the incident. Kasimkota Inspector Swamy Naidu stated that the collision between the lorry and the bus left eight people injured. They have been admitted to a nearby government hospital for treatment. Further details are awaited. Last month, eight pilgrims died after a 20-foot-long stretch collapsed at the Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Visakhapatnam during the Chandanotsavam festival. Meanwhile, the family members of the victims broke down in tears after the accident outside the King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam. According to Jogarao, who is a relative of the deceased Uma Maheswarao family member, a wall was recently constructed, and four lives of a family were lost due to the wall. Both the wife and husband worked as IT technicians. 'A wall was recently constructed, and four lives of a family were lost due to the wall. Both the wife and husband worked as IT technicians. We are demanding justice for the family. How can a wall constructed without a pillar support? I am demanding that the contractor and engineer of the wall construction. The Government should announce one crore ex gratia and one government job to family members. Without announcing it, we wouldn't allow to perform postmortems on the deceased bodies', he told ANI. Another relative of the deceased family members said that they demand to get to the bottom of the matter, and the government should take action against the officers who were involved in the poor construction of the wall. 'We need justice for losing our family members. The government should take action against the officers involved in the poor construction of the wall. Four members of my family lost their lives at the same time. Who will take responsibility for our family? The government should give one government and ex gratia to us', the family member said. (ANI)
