Even as the Chandrababu Naidu government ordered a comprehensive inquiry by a three-member committee into the wall collapse at the Simhachalam temple that killed seven devotees, preliminary findings point to gross negligence at every level — from the executive officer to the field staff — as the root cause of the tragedy.
Authorities were well aware that Chandanotsavam at Simhachalam draws nearly 1.5 lakh devotees from across Andhra Pradesh and neighboring states.
The event holds as much significance as the Tirumala Brahmotsavams or Vaikuntha Ekadashi darshans.
On this single day each year, devotees throng the hill temple for the rare opportunity to witness Appanna in his true form.
The temple town transforms into a sea of devotees. Given the scale and importance of the event, it is shocking how poorly the Endowments Department handled the preparations.
Despite advance knowledge of the festival, the Simhachalam temple’s Executive Officer (EO) went on leave. His responsibilities were handed over to an inexperienced officer.
When senior officer Bhramaramba was appointed as the main festival officer, she reportedly refused to take up the role. Another inactive official was then put in charge, but his presence on the ground was minimal, if at all.
This chain of administrative negligence ultimately led to the wall collapse that claimed seven lives. Serious questions are now being raised about who should be held accountable for the tragedy.
Widespread criticism has emerged over how no official treated the event with the seriousness it warranted.
The incident stands as a grim reminder of the deep-rooted apathy that has plagued the Endowments Department for years.
EO V Trinath Rao, who was officially in charge of the Simhachalam temple, went on a 92-day leave to the US from March 1 to May 31.
Despite Chandanotsavam being the temple’s most significant annual event, he proceeded with his leave even after the festival date had been finalized — raising serious concerns about how such leave was approved.
Notably, in 2023, inadequate arrangements during Chandanotsavam had already caused major inconvenience to devotees, drawing strong criticism. At the time, Trinath Rao was also serving as EO.
According to department insiders, he went on leave this year fearing backlash if another failure occurred under his watch.
