TELANGANA: The tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad, during the premiere of “Pushpa 2: The Rule,” has ignited political controversy. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G. Kishan Reddy, has openly criticized the Telangana government and police for their handling of the situation. He described the incident as a “failure” on the part of both the state authorities and law enforcement agencies.
The tragedy occurred on December 4, 2024, when a large crowd gathered at Sandhya Theatre to witness the premiere of the much-anticipated film “Pushpa 2: The Rule.” The situation escalated when actor Allu Arjun waved to fans from the sunroof of his car, leading to a stampede. The incident resulted in the death of a woman named Revathi and left her son, Sri Tej, critically injured.
In the aftermath, Allu Arjun was arrested and later released on bail after furnishing a ₹50,000 bond. The arrest has been a point of contention, with Kishan Reddy labeling it as “irresponsible and unwarranted.”
The film industry has rallied in support of the victim’s family. Producer Dil Raju, along with other industry members, visited Sri Tej in the hospital, offering assistance and expressing condolences. Additionally, producers Naveen Yerneni and Ravi Shankar handed over a ₹50 lakh cheque to Revathi’s family at KIMS Hospital in Hyderabad.
The incident has also led to political debates. Congress leader Vijayashanti criticized the political exploitation of the tragedy, emphasizing the need for unity and condemning attempts to deepen divisions among the people.
In response to the incident, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced that the state government would no longer permit benefit shows for new films and would not allow ticket price hikes. This decision aims to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As investigations continue, the Sandhya Theatre tragedy remains a focal point of discussion, highlighting the need for stringent crowd management protocols during public events.
Source: Web Team, C6N
