Telangana engineering student killed as light frame collapses during college fest

A first-year student at MVSR Engineering College in Telangana died after a metal lighting frame collapsed during a dandiya event at the college fest on Saturday night, reportedly due to strong winds. More than 15 other students are said to be injured.

The incident occurred at around 7.30 pm on the campus in Nadergul, Rangareddy district, near Hyderabad. Videos showed a large crowd which had gathered for the dance event scrambling for life as the structure fell onto students.

The student, Sony Narayan Das, was studying Electrical and Electronics Engineering. She was taken to a nearby private hospital but later died from her injuries.

Director of Academics at MVSR College J Prasanna Kumar told news agency ANI that the college had organised an annual technical and cultural fest called ‘Sangamam’ under the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department on October 16 and 17. A dandiya event was organised on the final evening at students’ request.

“It started around 5.30 to 6 pm and went on for about an hour and a half. Unfortunately, just 10 minutes before it was about to conclude, a strong gale came. A stand to which the lights were fixed in the girls’ section could not withstand it and fell on the students. We lost one young student, Sony Narayana Das, from the EEE branch,” he said. He added that around nine students were admitted to a private hospital nearby and were declared to be out of danger. 

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the incident and conveyed his condolences to the victim’s family. He directed officials to identify those responsible for the accident and take strict action.