Case booked after stampede at Sandhya Theatre during Pushpa 2 premiere in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A case was registered on December 5, 2024, following a tragic stampede at Sandhya 70mm Theatre in Chikkadapally, Hyderabad, during the premiere of Pushpa 2 on December 4, 2024. The incident led to the death of a 35-year-old woman and left her son injured.

According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Zone, Hyderabad, a large crowd gathered outside the theatre to watch the movie and possibly catch a glimpse of the film’s lead actors. However, the Deputy Commissioner stated that there was no prior communication from the theatre management or the actor’s team regarding their visit. Additionally, the theatre management failed to make sufficient security arrangements, including separate entry or exit points for the actors.

At approximately 9:30 p.m., actor Allu Arjun arrived at the theatre with his personal security team. The excited crowd attempted to enter the theatre alongside him, causing a surge in the already large gathering. The security team’s efforts to push back the crowd further escalated the situation. This chaos led to a large number of people pushing into the lower balcony area.

In the ensuing crush, Revathi, a 35-year-old woman from Dilshuknagar, and her 13-year-old son, Sree Thej, became trapped and began to suffocate. Police officers on duty immediately pulled them out and performed CPR on the boy before rushing them to the nearby Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital. Tragically, Revathi was declared dead upon arrival, while her son was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.

A case has been filed under Section 105, 118(1) r/w 3(5) BNS Act at Chikkadapally Police Station based on the complaint from the family of the deceased. Authorities have vowed to take strict action against those responsible for the chaotic situation inside the theatre that resulted in the fatality and injuries. An investigation is underway.