Hyderabad: A tragic stampede during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre in Chikkadpally on Wednesday night resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman and critically injured her nine-year-old son.
The incident unfolded as thousands of fans gathered to attend the screening of the much-anticipated film starring Allu Arjun. The chaos escalated when rumors spread that Allu Arjun and music director Devi Sri Prasad would make an appearance, prompting a surge in the crowd.
“There was no prior notice about their arrival, and no crowd control measures were organised,” said a Chikkadpally police official. “When fans rushed to catch a glimpse of the stars, the crowd pressure led to the stampede.”
Witnesses described harrowing scenes of people struggling to breathe as the packed theatre overflowed.
“The woman succumbed to asphyxiation due to a lack of immediate medical assistance. CPR was not administered in time,” said Chikkadpally Assistant Commissioner of Police, L. Ramesh Kumar.
The injured boy was rushed to a private hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Negligence Alleged
Police have announced plans to file a case against the theatre management for negligence.
“People were not prepared for the large turnout,” an official stated. “More must be done in the future to ensure public safety during such events.”
Aftermath
The road outside the theatre was strewn with confetti and discarded footwear, grim reminders of the chaotic night. In response to the tragedy, heavy police deployment has been arranged at nearby theatres to manage crowds during subsequent screenings.
The incident has reignited debates on the importance of crowd management at high-profile public events, particularly in light of the immense fan anticipation surrounding major film releases.
