A nine-year-old boy critically injured in a stampede during the premiere of Pushpa 2 at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad is showing early signs of recovery, according to his father, Mogudampalli Bhaskar. The incident occurred on December 4 when actor Allu Arjun’s presence drew massive crowds, leading to chaos that claimed the life of the boy’s mother, M Revathi, and left him fighting for his life.
Glimmers of Hope Amidst Uncertainty
Bhaskar, who has been at his son’s bedside at KIMS hospital in Secunderabad since the incident, reported some positive developments. “At times, he responds. He is opening his eyes for a few seconds. This is the first time he has started responding since he was admitted,” Bhaskar said.
Doctors treating the boy, including Dr. Chetan R Mundada and Dr. Vishnu Tej Pudi, noted cautious progress. While his vital parameters are stable without the need for oxygen or ventilatory support, the child remains in a semi-conscious state.
“He has spontaneous eye-opening and limb movements but lacks meaningful eye contact or recognition of family members,” the doctors explained. They added that the boy reacts to verbal stimuli but does not follow oral commands, and his intermittent dystonic movements and limb stiffness are being managed with medication.
A Night of Tragedy
The stampede at Sandhya Theatre occurred during the premiere of Pushpa 2, an event that drew overwhelming crowds eager to catch a glimpse of actor Allu Arjun. In the ensuing chaos, Bhaskar’s wife, Revathi, tragically lost her life, while his son was found unresponsive amidst the crowd.
Police constables stationed at the venue performed CPR on the boy before rushing him to Durga Bai Deshmukh Hospital for initial treatment. Doctors at the hospital advised transferring him to KIMS Hospital for advanced care.
Bhaskar, separated from his eight-year-old daughter during the chaos, spent hours searching for his family. “It was only after three hours that I discovered my wife had died and that my son had been shifted to KIMS by the police,” he recounted.
Support from the Community
In the days following the incident, Bhaskar received financial assistance from actor Allu Arjun and the producers of Pushpa 2, Y Naveen and Ravi Shankar. The producers visited the hospital and handed Bhaskar a cheque for Rs. 50 lakh to aid in his son’s treatment and recovery.
The Telangana government has also stepped in, covering all medical expenses for the boy’s care. Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Telangana’s Minister for Roads and Buildings and Cinematography, confirmed the state’s support, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring the best possible treatment.
Bhaskar acknowledged the assistance, saying, “For two-three days after the incident, I did not get much help, but I have received monetary support from Allu Arjun and others since then. My relatives are taking care of my daughter while I spend most of my time at the hospital.”
A Long Road to Recovery
While the boy’s condition has shown improvement, doctors emphasized that the journey to recovery will be long and uncertain. He remains semi-conscious, tolerates feeds through a nasogastric tube, and requires intermittent suctioning of his tracheostomy tube.
“He has been febrile for the last three days and still lacks meaningful responses, but his progress so far is promising,” the medical team stated.
The tragedy has drawn widespread attention to crowd management at public events, sparking discussions about the responsibility of organizers to ensure the safety of attendees.