Visakhapatnam: Ahead of the Simhachalam Giri Pradakshina, a shed that had been erected at the foot of Simhachalam for the event collapsed, causing outrage among the community. On Saturday, Vizag District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad held a review meeting at his office to assess the preparations for the Simhachalam Giri Pradakshina, scheduled for July 9 and 10, organised by the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple. While the meeting was in progress, the shed at the foot of Simhachalam collapsed due to improper concrete laying beneath the support pillars. Fortunately, there were no casualties.This incident raised concerns among devotees, especially following a recent wall collapse during the ‘Nijarupa Darshan’ at Simhachalam. Public representatives urged the administration to exercise greater caution and to learn from previous incidents. Collector Harendhira Prasad assured that swift action would be taken against any engineering lapses and emphasised the priority of ensuring devotee safety. The review meeting addressed critical infrastructure requirements to provide a safe and smooth pilgrimage experience. Officials outlined essential amenities, which included rest camps, high-mast lighting, and medical aid along the temple steps. On July 9 and 10, security personnel, police camps, and public address systems will be deployed from morning until evening. Strategies for stringent crowd control and queue management were also discussed to prevent unrest and bottlenecks. With an expected turnout of over 500,000 to 600,000 devotees, the Vizag district has made the following arrangements: 132 drinking water stations (one every 200 meters), 500 toilets with designated sanitation workers and supervisors, six control rooms, public address systems in five zones, 32 medical camps connected to 18 hospitals, 18 ambulances, nine generators to ensure an uninterrupted power supply, five boats, and 60 lifeguards at Appu Ghar. Additionally, liquor outlets will remain closed for two days, and 50 free buses will be provided for devotees. Fourteen rest shelters have been identified in schools and Kalyana Mandapams. Departments are actively trimming tree branches and removing overhead wires to minimise hazards. A mobile app is being developed to facilitate emergency coordination and response. Special transport services will operate to ferry residents from Adivaram to Pineapple Colony by 2 PM on the day of the Pradakshina, with ample parking available at 13 designated zones. Temple Executive Officer Vendra Trinadharao stated that the ‘Prachara Radham’ will be flagged off by hereditary Dharmakarta Ashok Gajapati and is expected to begin its journey at 2 PM, arriving at the temple by 10 to 11 PM. Following the ceremonial ‘Pavalimpu Seva,’ darshan will be open from 5 AM to 4 PM on July 10 and will resume from 5:30 PM to 7 PM after another evening ritual. The review meeting was attended by MPs, MLAs, GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg, CP Shankhabrata Bagchi, DCPs Ajitha and Mary Prashanthi, as well as senior officials from the temple and government.