Cochin: 4 students dead, 60 injured in stampede during a concert in Kerala

Mangalore Today News Network

Cochin, Nov 26, 2023: Four students died and over 60 were injured in a stampede-like situation during the annual festival at Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) in Kerala on Saturday.

The incident took place during a concert by singer Nikita Gandhi. While all the injured students were rushed to the nearest Kalamassery Medical College for treatment, four students - two girls and two boys - were pronounced dead on arrival.

According to a civic official, the incident took place due to the same exit and the entrance to the auditorium where the concert was held. “Students who were entering the auditorium fell down the stairs and the crowd trampled them,” the official told news agency ANI

The vice chancellor of the university said the stampede took place when it started raining. “The fest started yesterday. Various programmes have been arranged as part of the fest. Today, there was a musical programme. Students from neighbouring colleges also attended the programme. Unfortunately, the crowd was huge. More than 2,000 people came inside and there was a rush at the stairs,” he said.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday night expressed shock over the incident and ordered a probe. “Heartfelt condolences go out to the family members of the four students who lost their lives. Immediate and enhanced treatment facilities have been arranged for the injured. P. Rajeev, the Minister for Industries, and R. Bindu, the Minister of Higher Education, have departed for Ernakulam to assess the situation directly. A thorough investigation into the incident will commence without delay,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).