Boy injured in 'Pushpa-2' stampede responds after 20 days

NEW DELHI: The boy injured during the Pushpa 2 premiere at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad has regained consciousness after 20 days, his father said on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media, Bhaskar, the child's father, expressed his appreciation for the support they have received.

"The child responded after 20 days. He is responding today. Allu Arjun and the Telangana government are supporting us," he said.

Allu Arjun questioned

Hyderabad police questioned actor Allu Arjun about the tragic incident at the Pushpa 2 premiere on December 4.

The controversy stems from the December 4 premiere at Sandhya Theatre, where a large crowd gathered to see Allu Arjun.

Chaos broke out when the actor waved to fans from his car’s sunroof, leading to the death of a woman named Revathi and injuries to her child.

Allu Arjun was arrested after the incident but secured bail by furnishing a Rs 50,000 bond.

In the latest update, Pushpa 2 producers Naveen Yerneni and Ravi Shankar handed over a Rs 50 lakh cheque to Revathi's family at KIMS Hospital in Hyderabad.

The cheque was given in the presence of Telangana minister for Roads & Buildings and Cinematography, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy. Revathi's husband, whose son Sri Tej remains hospitalised, accepted the cheque.

Producer Naveen Yerneni called the incident "very unfortunate" and said, "We have been deeply saddened since the day it happened. We cannot express our feelings. Revathi's death is a significant loss for the family. We visited the boy in the hospital, and he is recovering. The doctors are doing their best. We want to support the family, and this cheque is part of that effort."

'Conducted road show, worsening the situation'

The incident has sparked political controversy, with Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy holding Allu Arjun responsible. Addressing the Assembly, Reddy said police had denied permission for the event at Sandhya Theatre due to safety concerns.

"On December 2, Sandhya theatre owners requested arrangements for the cast and crew of Pushpa 2 to attend the premiere at Sandhya Theatre on December 4," Reddy stated.

"However, on December 3, the Chikkadpally Circle Inspector rejected the request in writing, citing the theatre's location in a congested area with only one entry and exit point, making it difficult to ensure safety. Despite this, the actor attended the event, climbed onto his car roof, and conducted a roadshow, worsening the situation," he added.


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