Woman dies, son injured as crowds throng theatre for 'Pushpa 2' screening in Hyderabad

The incident took place on Wednesday night when a large number of fans thronged the cinema hall to have a glimpse of the actor.

Footwears lie on the floor during the premiere show of Telugu film 'Pushpa 2', in Hyderabad, Wednesday night, Dec. 4, 2024. Photo | PTI

HYDERABAD: A woman died and her son was hospitalised due to asphyxiation as crowds "jostled" at a film theatre here during the premier show of actor Allu Arjun's "Pushpa 2: The Rule", police said on Thursday.

The incident took place on Wednesday night when a large number of fans thronged the cinema hall to have a glimpse of the actor, they said.

There were no arrangements by the theatre management or prior information about the arrival of the actor and other members of the film, police said.

A heavy crowd rushed ahead and the woman and her son, who were trying to enter inside the theatre, suffocated and fell unconscious apparently after being pushed by the crowd, police said, based on preliminary investigation.

Security personnel give CPR to a boy who fainted after a large number of fans gathered at a theatre for the premiere show of Telugu film 'Pushpa 2', in Hyderabad, Wednesday night, Dec. 4, 2024. A woman died and her son was hospitalised after suffering from suffocation due to jostling in the crowd during the film premiere.

A police official pointed out that the theatre was small, and it could not accommodate such a massive crowd.

Police personnel conducted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on the woman and her son and shifted them to a hospital, where the woman died and her son is undergoing treatment, a senior police official said.

To control the situation, police used mild force to disperse the surging crowd.

A case has been booked in connection with the incident.