Tragedy Strikes Premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule in Hyderabad: One Dead, Child Injured in Stampede

A tragic incident unfolded at the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad on Wednesday evening, when a stampede claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman and left her nine-year-old son critically injured. The chaos erupted as thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the film’s lead actor, Allu Arjun, who attended the event alongside music director Devi Sri Prasad.

The situation worsened when the theatre’s main gate collapsed under the pressure of the massive crowd. Despite efforts to manage the crowd, the stampede resulted in a fatality and severe injuries. The injured child was rushed to a private hospital and remains under medical care.

Police struggled to control the growing crowd and resorted to lathi charges while requesting additional reinforcements. The crowd had gathered not only for the premiere but also to see the film’s production team, leading to uncontrollable scenes despite heightened security measures.

Pushpa 2: The Rule, directed by Sukumar, is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise. Set to release across 10,000 screens in multiple languages, the film stars Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, reprising their roles from the first installment. Although plans for a 3D version were delayed, the film will be available in 2D and 4DX formats.

The excitement surrounding the film led to ticket price hikes in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, sparking legal petitions. Despite objections, the Telangana High Court cleared the way for the film’s release, rejecting the challenges.