Simhachalam tragedy: MP Gurumoorthy demands probe into temple tragedies, security failures across Andhra

Visakhapatnam: In the wake of the tragic death of seven devotees due to a wall collapse at the Simhachalam Temple during the annual Chandanotsavam festival, Tirupati Lok Sabha MP Maddila Gurumoorthy has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs, urging the Central Government to launch an urgent and comprehensive inquiry into the recurring administrative and security failures at temples across Andhra Pradesh.

In his letter, the MP expressed deep concern over a pattern of alarming lapses in governance, security, and infrastructure at several of the state’s most sacred temples.

He cited the April 30, 2025, incident at the Simhachalam Temple in Visakhapatnam, where a newly constructed wall—erected just 20 days earlier using flyash bricks—collapsed, killing seven devotees and injuring several others. The MP noted that the wall was allegedly built without structural columns and with substandard materials, pointing to gross negligence in construction standards, supervision, and crowd control during the major festival.

The MP also drew attention to the mysterious deaths of rare Indian star tortoises at the Sri Kurmanatha Swamy Temple in Srikurmam, which have disturbed devotees and conservationists alike. Reports have revealed poor upkeep, suspicious fire incidents on temple grounds, and the illegal cremation of the protected animals without mandatory post-mortem procedures—violating both wildlife protection laws and traditional customs.

Further, he raised serious concerns about continued security lapses at Tirumala, the holiest shrine of Lord Venkateswara Swamy. Despite multiple incidents and warnings, including the tragic stampede on January 8, 2025, the MP noted that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has failed to implement effective corrective actions. He highlighted a recent breach in which devotees reached the temple’s sanctum wearing footwear, bypassing three layers of security—an indication of severe flaws in surveillance and inter-agency coordination.

Additionally, the MP referenced an earlier 2025 report on the deaths of over 100 cows at the TTD Goshala, allegedly due to mismanagement, poor-quality feed, and inadequate veterinary care—underscoring systemic negligence in temple administration.

He emphasized that the absence of a dedicated security chief and the fragmented operation of various agencies have severely undermined both pilgrim safety and the spiritual integrity of these revered temples.

The MP Maddila Gurumoorthy urged both State and Central authorities to launch a thorough, impartial investigation into these ongoing failures and to implement immediate measures to restore safety, accountability, and faith in temple management systems.