The premiere of Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna‘s ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ was hit with tragedy after a woman lost her life in a stampede-like incident that broke out at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad.
The incident resulted in the death of the 39-year-old woman and left her young son critically injured and in hospital. According to the latest reports, on PTI, the theatre is set to face legal action. The police told the portal, “There were no arrangements by the theatre management or prior information about the arrival of the actor and other members of the film.”
Based on a preliminary investigation, the police added, “A heavy crowd rushed ahead and the woman and her son, who were trying to enter inside the theatre, suffocated and fell unconscious apparently after being pushed by the crowd.”
An official also pointed out that the theatre was small, and it could not accommodate such a massive crowd.
Early reports doing the rounds stated that the woman, identified as Revathi, had attended the screening with her family. Chaos erupted as fans rushed to catch a glimpse of leading man Allu Arjun, leading to overcrowding and a stampede near the theatre exit.
Despite efforts by police and bystanders to provide immediate assistance, Revathi succumbed to her injuries, while her son is in hospital.
The latest reports suggest that the theatre could face charges of negligence.
Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna, was one of the most awaited films of the year. Several theatres around the country reported ‘sold out’ shows during the film’s debut weekend. Box office reports also suggest that the film could just go on to break records and become the highest-earning film of the year.