The child's family criticised Allu Arjun for not speaking about the incident, and demanded action to be taken against the theatre management.
Published Dec 05, 2024 | 1:05 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 05, 2024 | 4:15 PM
Crowd near the Sandhya theatre. (X)
Actor Allu Arjun’s most anticipated film Pushpa 2: The Rule finally hit the screens on Thursday, 5 December. However, the occasion was marred with sorrow.
A day ahead of the release, during a premiere show at the iconic Sandhya Theatre, at RTC X roads in Hyderabad, one woman died and at least two others were injured in a stampede caused after Allu Arjun arrived at the theatre.
Among the injured, the condition of the eight-year-old child, who is hospitalised at the KIMS hospital is said to be critical.
On Thursday, 5 December, the KIMS Hospital issued a statement stating that the child is currently under intensive care, and is being closely monitored as the medical team works to stabilize his condition.
The statement read, “A CT scan of the brain and spine showed no significant abnormalities, and while the child’s lactic acidosis has improved, his sensorium remains impaired. The child was brought to the emergency room in a semi-conscious state. Before arrival, CPR was administered by both police personnel and bystanders. Upon presentation at the hospital, the child exhibited low oxygen saturation and irregular breathing, which required immediate intubation and ventilation.”
“The critical condition of the child is believed to be due to prolonged unresponsiveness, potentially causing severe hypoxia and possible lung injury from aspiration or contusions. The prompt CPR provided by bystanders and the police played a crucial role in reviving the child, allowing for further medical intervention,” it added.
Revathi, a resident of Dilsukhnagar, had come to watch the Pushpa 2 premiere show along with her husband Bhaskar and their two children, Sri Tej (9) and Sanvika (7). As the crowd pushed through the gates, Revathi and her son Sri Tej fell unconscious amidst the commotion.
“The victim, a 39-year-old woman, fell unconscious at Sandhya Theatre and was brought to Durga Bai Deshmukh Hospital for treatment,” the police told South First. However, doctors declared her dead upon arrival.
The deceased Revathy’s husband Bhaskar, speaking to the media said that his son, who is currently hospitalised is a huge fan of Allu Arjun. “We went for the premiere only for him, everyone calls him ‘Pushpa’. But losing my wife like this is very painful,” he said.
Further speaking about the situation on Wednesday night, he recalled, “At first my wife and kids went inside the theatre, at that time the rush was manageable, but with the sudden arrival of Allu Arjun, the crowd increased.”
The relatives of the child demanded Allu Arjun to respond to the tragedy and support the family. They criticised the actor for not speaking about the incident. The family also demanded action to be taken against the theatre management.
On Thursday, the DYFI and SFI called for a protest in front of Sandhya Theatre at RTC X Road at 1 PM, to demand action against the theatre, and compensation for the family of the deceased woman.
The Chikkadpally police booked a case against the theatre for negligence. The police criticized the organizers for failing to make adequate arrangements for crowd control despite knowing the large turnout expected for the movie and Allu Arjun’s appearance.
They expressed frustration over not being informed about the actor’s exact arrival time, which further escalated the situation.
Chikkadpally SI confirmed, “A case has been registered regarding the death. The corpse is currently at Gandhi Hospital undergoing post-mortem. The IO is going to proceed after that. The police are stationed at RTC Cross Roads and the situation has become peaceful.”
The case has been registered under IPC 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), which are now BNS 105 and 118, respectively.
Allu Arjun, who had arrived at the theatre to greet fans and watch the premiere, unintentionally triggered the frenzy. As he entered and greeted the crowd, fans surged forward, breaking the barricades and pushing into the theatre gates.
The police, anticipating trouble, cordoned off the area and closed the gates to prevent further mishaps. Additional reinforcements were called in to manage the crowd and restore order.
The screening was a government-sanctioned benefit show, drawing enormous crowds of fans eager to celebrate the release of the much-anticipated film.
Despite police efforts to disperse the crowd with mild force, the stampede claimed the life of Revathi and left her family devastated. Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes as injured fans were pulled to safety and rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
(Edited by Sumavarsha kandula, with inputs from Sumit Jha)
