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A tragic stampede at a Hyderabad theatre during Pushpa 2’s premiere claimed a mother’s life and left her son critical. Read the full story.

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A Family Outing Turns into a Nightmare

A day meant for family bonding ended in tragedy for Bhaskar and his family on the highly anticipated release day of Pushpa 2: The Rule. M Revathi, 39, a homemaker from Hyderabad, insisted on taking her son Shreethej, 9, and her husband Bhaskar to watch the movie starring Telugu icon Allu Arjun at Sandhya Theatre. Shreethej, an ardent fan of the actor, often mimicked his idol by declaring himself “Pushpa the fire,” inspired by the star’s character in Pushpa: The Rise.

However, what began as an evening of excitement turned chaotic when a stampede erupted during the movie’s premiere on Wednesday night. Revathi lost her life in the turmoil, while Shreethej remains in critical condition at KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad. The family’s seven-year-old daughter, fortunately, was not injured, but now faces the devastating loss of her mother.

Chaos Unfolds as Crowd Gathers for Allu Arjun’s Appearance

According to Bhaskar, who works for a private firm in Dilsukhnagar, his family attended the show ahead of the premiere, expecting a memorable night. The theater buzzed with fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun, who was slated to attend along with the film’s cast.

The situation spiraled out of control as the actor’s arrival was announced. A massive crowd surged toward the venue, causing Bhaskar and his daughter to become separated from Revathi and Shreethej. In his police statement, Bhaskar recounted his futile attempts to reach his wife via phone. When he finally returned to the theatre hours later, he discovered that Revathi had been caught in the stampede, while their son had been rushed to the hospital.

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A Father’s Ordeal: Grief and Despair

Bhaskar’s anguish deepened as the night progressed. “Neither I nor the relatives who arrived overnight knew whether to make funeral arrangements or attend to my son,” he said. At 2 am, the police informed him that Revathi had succumbed to her injuries, while Shreethej was on life support.

Doctors at KIMS Hospitals later released a statement detailing the boy’s condition. “The patient arrived in a semi-conscious state and remains critical under intensive care. Prompt CPR provided by bystanders and the police played a crucial role in stabilizing him enough for medical intervention,” they noted, highlighting potential complications like hypoxia and lung injuries.

Legal Action and Accountability

The tragedy has sparked outrage, with Bhaskar filing a complaint leading to legal charges against actor Allu Arjun, his security team, and the Sandhya Theatre management. Akshansh Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Hyderabad’s central zone, stated that a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and grievous hurt under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered.

“We will take stringent action as per law against all those responsible for the chaotic situation inside the theatre,” said the DCP. The investigation aims to hold accountable those whose negligence led to the tragedy.

Community Reels from the Aftermath

As Hyderabad mourns the incident, many are questioning the lack of crowd control measures at high-profile events. For Bhaskar and his surviving children, the road ahead is one of immense grief and recovery.

In a public statement, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) pointed out that Sandhya Theatre did not notify the police about Allu Arjun and other cast members planning to visit. Similarly, B Raju Naik, the Station House Officer (SHO) at Chikkadpally police station, echoed this sentiment. He noted that although a large crowd had assembled outside, “neither the theatre management nor the actors’ team informed us about their visit time.”

 

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