Tragedy Strikes at Pushpa 2 Premiere: Woman Dies, Son in Critical Condition in Hyderabad Stampede

Hyderabad:A tragic incident unfolded during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad on Wednesday night, leaving a woman dead and her young son critically injured. The stampede occurred as thousands of fans surged toward the theatre gate to catch a glimpse of the film's star, Allu Arjun, who had arrived with music director Devi Sri Prasad for the event.

The deceased has been identified as M Revathi, a 39-year-old woman who had come to the theatre with her husband, M Bhaskar, and their two children, aged nine and seven. According to police, the crowd, which had gathered in an intense frenzy, put immense pressure on the theatre gates, causing them to collapse. This led to the stampede, during which Revathi and her son were tragically caught underfoot.

Eyewitnesses reported that the crowd, despite the presence of police, was uncontrollable. As the gates gave way, people who were exiting from an earlier show were also swept into the surge, making the situation more chaotic. Revathi and her son fell to the ground in the chaos, and despite efforts by police to resuscitate her, she was later declared dead at Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital. Her son, suffering severe injuries, was rushed to KIMS Hospital where his condition remains critical.

Police have registered a case at the Chikkadpally police station. While a mild baton charge was used by the police to control the crowd, the scene remained chaotic as the heavy turnout overwhelmed the security measures in place.

The incident occurred during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise. The film, starring Allu Arjun in the lead role, was released in select theatres across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with ticket prices reportedly as high as Rs 1,200.

The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and have promised a thorough review of the security arrangements. Meanwhile, the incident has cast a shadow over the celebrations of the film’s release.

In the aftermath, the film’s producers and local authorities have expressed their condolences to the family of the deceased and have pledged support for the recovery of the injured child.

Fans, actors, and social media users have flooded platforms with messages of sorrow, condemning the chaotic scenes that led to the tragic loss of life.

The tragedy has raised serious questions about crowd management and security measures at public events, particularly when large crowds gather for high-profile film premieres.