Pushpa 2 stampede: Hyderabad Police issue Show Cause Notice to Sandhya Theatre
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad City Police have issued a Show Cause Notice to Sandhya 70MM Theatre, located at RTC X Roads, after serious lapses in crowd management during the Pushpa 2 movie premiere on December 4, 2024.
The notice from the Commissioner of Police described the theatre’s failure to control the crowd, which led to the death of a woman and left her 9-year-old son in critical condition.
The Commissioner of Police has directed Renuka Devi, the licensee of Sandhya 70MM Theatre, to explain why the Cinematograph Licence under Form-B should not be revoked for failing to ensure a safe environment. The theatre has 10 days to respond to the Show Cause Notice.
At around 9:40 p.m. on December 4, a large crowd gathered at the theatre after actor Allu Arjun and the movie's lead actress visited unannounced. The theatre management failed to inform the local police about the visit or make arrangements for crowd control. As the actor’s security tried to escort him inside, the situation escalated as fans surged into the lower balcony area.
The lack of proper security and crowd control led to overcrowding, causing suffocation. Revathi (35), from Dilsukhnagar, and her 9-year-old son Tej were among those trapped in the crowd. Both collapsed and were pulled out by bystanders. Police officers, including SI L. Mounika and PC Anjaneyulu, performed CPR and rushed them to Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital. Revathi was declared dead on arrival, while her son was later transferred to KIMS Hospital for further treatment.
A case has been registered at Chikkadpally Police Station under Cr.No. 376/2024, with charges citing violations of sections 105, 118(1) r/w 3(5) of the BNS Act.
Identified Lapses in Theatre Management:
1. Failure to inform the police about the actor's visit, despite knowing the large crowd it would attract.
2. Inadequate security and crowd control, including a single DFMD at the entrance and no frisking arrangements for women.
3. Lack of clear signage for entry and exit, causing confusion among the crowd.
4. Unauthorised installation of flexes, trusses, and lighting outside the theatre, contributing to crowd buildup.
5. Damaged infrastructure, including a lower balcony gate, could not withstand the crowd pressure.
6. Absence of a ticket verification system, allowing unauthorised entry and overcrowding.
7. Poor parking arrangements and failure to manage crowd movement at the main gates.
8. Allowing private security personnel to block public pathways worsens the situation.
