Kochi (Kerala): Four students, two of them women, died in a stampede during a fest at Kerala’s Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat). The tragedy apparently triggered by rain that caused waiting throngs to suddenly rush into an auditorium where singer Nikhita Gandhi was performing.
Around 50 others were injured and hospitalised, with four of them critical. “Entry to the programme was restricted to pass-holders. But students and others who didn’t have such passes had also gathered on the campus,” a Cusat faculty member said.
As more people rushed into the auditorium, some fell off the stairs leading to the hall. Then, more fell on those already lying on the floor, an eyewitness said, adding that the lack of multiple exits worsened the crush.
ADGP Ajith Kumar and city police commissioner A Akbar claimed the organisers had not informed them about the event.
Three of the deceased have been identified and all of them are Cusat students. Saturday was the concluding day of the fest and it drew students from tech colleges across the state. According to ADGP Kumar, the size of the auditorium indicated it had a 1,000-1,500 capacity. “It seems like a freak accident since there is no reason for it to happen here in normal cases. The auditorium was only partly filled inside and the crowd outside was also not that big,” said Kumar. The victims were rushed to Ernakulam Government Medical College and a private hospital in the city.
Expert panel to probe stampede
The Kerala government said it has decided to constitute an expert committee to look into the stampede. State Higher Education Minister R Bindu said the expert panel will also frame terms of reference to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.
She said any further action would be taken after receiving all the reports. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan and Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan condoled the deaths.