Hyderabad: A nine-year-old boy injured in a stampede during the premiere of Allu Arjun’s latest film, Pushpa 2, has been declared brain dead, Hyderabad City Police Commissioner CV Anand confirmed on Tuesday. The child, identified as Sritej, suffered brain death due to oxygen deprivation during the stampede at Sandhya Theatre on December 4.
Sritej remains on ventilator support at KIMS Hospital. Telangana Government Health Secretary Dr. Christina assured that his condition is being closely monitored. According to a medical bulletin, “Sritej is in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), requiring minimal oxygen support. His vital parameters are stable, and he is tolerating feeds well. However, due to his static neurological status, a tracheostomy is planned to facilitate weaning from the ventilator.”
The tragedy also claimed the life of Sritej’s mother, Revathi, who succumbed to injuries sustained during the stampede. Thousands of fans had gathered at the premiere to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun, leading to chaos after the actor waved to the crowd from his vehicle’s sunroof.
Allu Arjun was arrested in connection with the incident but was granted bail by the Telangana High Court after furnishing a personal bond of ₹50,000. Police allege that his actions contributed to the chaotic scene, which resulted in the tragic deaths and injuries.
The incident has sparked debates over crowd management and celebrity accountability during high-profile events. Authorities have pledged stricter measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.