An eight-year-old boy, who was injured in a stampede at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad during the premiere of Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 - The Rule on December 4, remains in critical condition. The boy was admitted to KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad after his mother died in the stampede while attending the premiere show with her husband and two children. Following the actor’s unexpected appearance at the screening, the crowd gathered in large numbers while he was leaving the theatre, leading to the stampede.
According to a statement from the hospital, the child had exhibited signs of low oxygen saturation in the blood and irregular breathing, necessitating immediate intubation and ventilation. It added that the child remained in a critical condition and has been placed under intensive care with continuous monitoring by the medical team.
The statement also said that a CT scan of the brain and spine had revealed no significant abnormalities. “The child’s critical condition is believed to be a result of prolonged unresponsiveness, likely causing severe hypoxia and potential lung injury from aspiration or contusions,” KIMS Hospital further said that prompt CPR provided by bystanders and the police had helped save the child’s life.
Visuals from the night of the incident show massive crowds pressed together and chaos as excited fans attempted to get closer to Allu Arjun. The police reportedly did not have any information about the actor’s arrival until two hours prior, thereby failing to organise a bandobast.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad’s iconic Prasads Multiplex has said that it will not be screening Pushpa 2, citing “unforeseen circumstances”. According to reports, the multiplex owners and the film’s production company Mythri Movie Makers have been unable to reach an agreement regarding a share in profits. The production company has demanded 55% of the profits from theatres instead of the conventional 50% to 52.5%, which Prasads Multiplex refused, Cinema Express reports.