The 500-year-old Gali Gopuram (temple tower) at the Sri Kalahasti temple in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh collapsed on Wednesday evening.
The tower, a heavy concrete structure, fell on a neighbouring guest house meant for pilgrims. However, there were no casualties.
The structure had been developing cracks for over a decade.
Religious groups in the temple area brought this to the government’s notice several times. However, only minor repairs were made.
The tower’s cracks widened when Cyclone Laila caused a heavy downpour in the area, forcing the temple authorities to evacuate it on Tuesday.
On Wednesday morning, archaeologists visited the temple to strategise on rebuilding the tower.
In the afternoon, endowments minister G Venkat Reddy told the media that there was no negligence on the part of the government or the temple authorities in restoring the structure.
“It is not right to blame the government. We are taking all measures to protect the structure,” he said.
However, hours after the minister’s clarification, the structure came down.
Though there are conflicting estimates, the seven-storey structure is believed to be built by Sri Krishnadevaraya in 1516 after winning a battle against the Gajapati kings.
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