A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday evening during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad, where a 35-year-old woman was killed, and her nine-year-old son was seriously injured. The chaos unfolded as massive crowds gathered at the theatre, hoping to catch a glimpse of the film's lead actor, Allu Arjun, who had arrived with music director Devi Sri Prasad for the screening.
According to police reports, the situation turned chaotic when fans surged toward the theatre to see the actor. The pressure of the crowd caused the main gate of the theatre to collapse. Efforts by the police to control the mob with a lathi charge failed to prevent the stampede, which ultimately led to the fatality. The injured child was immediately rushed to a private hospital, where he is receiving treatment.
Police confirmed that thousands had gathered at the theatre, not only to watch the much-anticipated film but also to catch a glimpse of the film's production team. In response to the escalating situation, additional police reinforcements were called in to manage the crowd.
Pushpa 2: The Rule, directed by Sukumar, is the sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise. The film, starring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, is set to be released across 10,000 screens in multiple languages. However, due to delays in post-production, plans for a 3D version were scrapped, and the movie will be screened in 2D and 4DX formats.
Amid the film's release, ticket prices in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were hiked, sparking petitions in court. Despite objections, the Telangana High Court allowed the release to proceed.
The tragic incident casts a shadow over the excitement surrounding the film's premiere, highlighting the dangers of overcrowded events.
(Source: NDTV)
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