The incident
The open-air auditorium on campus, located near the canteen and the Student Amenities Centre, was scheduled to hold a music concert by Nikhita Gandhi when the stampede occurred.
The event, which took place on the final day of the three-day annual Tech Fest, Dhishna, was ticketed. Those who had a gate pass received a black “Dhishna” T-shirt.
According to sources, the gates opened at 5:30 pm and invitees were told they would close at 7:30 pm.
However, at about 7 pm, severe rain lashed the campus, prompting many gathered outdoors to run into the nearby roofed auditorium. People went over the auditorium stairs during the uproar, causing the stampede, ADGP MR Ajithkumar told reporters.
According to the senior police officer, the auditorium — which has a single access and exit point and a capacity of 2,000 — was only “partly filled” during the rush.
According to estimates, there were approximately 800 individuals inside the auditorium during the rush.
Reports said the crowd included those who did not have the passes. They had gathered outdoors to watch the event.
According to CUSAT Vice-Chancellor PG Sankaran, the institution had informed the police about the programme.
However, as Kochi was hosting a home game of the Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League, most of the city’s police presence was concentrated in and around the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor.
“The exit and entry through the same gate had caused the stampede,” stated Municipal Kalamassery Councillor P Pramod. “As the students were trying to enter through the same gate, those who fell were stomped over by those who rushed in,” he explained.
According to CUSAT VC Sankaran, around 2,500 students from the institution attended the programme on Saturday, 25 November. Residents and students from adjacent institutions were also present on the campus at the time of the disaster.
(With PTI inputs)
