Voice9, New
Delhi Bureau: A tragic incident occurred during a music concert at Cochin
University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in Kerala's Kochi on Saturday,
resulting in the deaths of four students, including two girls, and around 50
students being injured.
The stampede
happened at approximately 7 p.m. during a performance by singer Nikhita Gandhi
as part of the tech festival 'Dhishna', organised by the School of Engineering
under CUSAT at Kalamassery in Kochi. According to eyewitnesses, the stampede
occurred when students attempted to enter the venue after a sudden downpour.
Several
students fell on the steps leading to the auditorium. Preliminary reports
suggest that student volunteers were managing the crowd, and the entry and exit
were through a single gate.
The media
was informed by CUSAT vice chancellor P. G. Sankaran that the police had been
notified about the event. However, the police claimed that they had not
received proper notification about the program, resulting in no deployment of
forces for crowd control.
The injured students were promptly taken to nearby hospitals, while two engineering students named Athul Thampi and Sara Thomas were tragically identified as the deceased. According to Kerala Health Minister Veena George, two male and two female students lost their lives, with two others in critical condition.
The majority
of the students involved were from the School of Engineering, gaining entry
based on their black t-shirts and college identity cards. There were also
reports of students from other institutions and some locals attempting to enter
the venue, causing further chaos.
The
auditorium had a maximum capacity of approximately 1,500 individuals, but the
exact number of students present during the incident was unknown. Due to the
COVID pandemic, the tech fest had not been held for three years and was
scheduled to take place from November 24 to 26. The event included technical
displays, discussions, and workshops.
A group of
ministers, including Industries Minister P. Rajeeve and Higher Education
Minister R. Bindu, were on their way to the location. Additionally, Nikhita
Gandhi stated in a social media post that the incident occurred before she
departed for the venue.
