THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At least four persons including three students, died and 49 sustained injuries in a stampede that occurred during a tech-fest Dishna at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in Ernakulam district of Kerala on Saturday.
The tragic incident took place at around 7 pm on Saturday when the music concert led by Bollywood singer Nikhita Gandhi was about to begin at the open-air university auditorium.
Of the 49 injured, the condition of two is stated to be highly critical and they are on ventilator support in a private hospital. Two others are in ICU at the government medical college. Ernakulam Collector N.S.K. Umesh said that three of the four dead persons have been identified.
They are Athul Thamby of Koothattukulam, Annruftha of North Paravur and Sarah Thomas of Thamarassery. The fourth person is yet to be identified. He said 49 persons are undergoing treatment in various hospitals.
Though entry to the show was restricted as part of the security arrangements made by the organisers CUSAT School of Engineering, an unexpected spell of rain forced students and others who were standing outside to rush towards the auditorium to take shelter.
Consequently, there was a sudden rush resulting in a stampede on the steep staircase at the entrance of the auditorium which led to a stampede. The seriously injured students were immediately rushed to the government medical college in Kalamassery and private hospitals in the city.
The Tech Fest which began on Friday was scheduled to conclude on Sunday. Besides students of CUSAT, students of other institutions and the local residents had also assembled on the campus for the annual tech fest. ADGP M.R. Ajith Kumar who visited the site of the mishap, said the organisers had made arrangements regarding the entry.
Meanwhile, it is alleged that adequate police were not provided by the local police since a large number of security personnel had to be deployed for the ISL match at the Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium.
