Techie couple buried under wall in Simhachalam incident

Visakhapatnam: A pall of gloom has descended upon Chandrampalem in Madhurawada and nearby areas, as relatives and residents are mourning the tragic deaths caused by the wall collapse at Simhachalam Sri Varaha Lakshmi Nrusimha Swamy Temple. The incident has left the local community shaken.The victims, Pilla Umamaheswara Rao (30) and his wife Sailaja (27), lost their lives when a wall near the bus complex on Simhachalam hill collapsed early on Wednesday morning, amidst heavy rains, thunderstorms, and strong winds.Described as a loving and amicable couple by neighbours and relatives, Umamaheswara Rao and Sailaja's sudden demise has devastated their family and friends. Their relative Raju shared that Umamaheswara Rao's father, Appalanaidu, is a plumber, while his uncle, Pilla Rambabu, is a well-known stage artist. Rao, the sole son among two siblings, had recently established himself as a professional after completing his education.Employed at HCL, Umamaheswara married Sailaja, an Infosys professional, three years ago. Both were residing in Hyderabad, working remotely. The couple, accompanied by their aunt G Mahalakshmi and relative Venkata Ratnam, visited the Simhachalam temple at 1 a.m. At around 2 a.m., while waiting in the Rs 300 special darshan queue, the six-foot wall above the queue lines suddenly collapsed. Rao and Sailaja sustained fatal injuries, leading to their immediate death. Chandrampalem village is now steeped in grief, with locals offering condolences for this heartbreaking tragedy.