The release of Pushpa 2 turned into a nightmare for a family after a woman died and her child was seriously injured due to a stampede that erupted when actor Allu Arjun decided to attend a special screening of the film in Hyderabad on Wednesday night. The crowd went berserk to catch one glimpse of the actor, and it resulted into a fan losing her life.
According to reports, the incident occurred at 10:30 pm at the Sandhya Theatre in RTC Crossroads, Hyderabad, where Allu Arjun arrived to attend a special screening of Pushpa 2 with his ardent fans. As hundreds of fans rushed to catch a glimpse of their beloved 'Bunny', the main gate of the theatre collapsed, and that led to a massive stampede.
Amid the stampede, a woman and a child, believed to be her son, fainted. They were rushed to the hospital, but the 39-year-old fan, identified as Revathi, succumbed to her injuries. The child is currently undergoing treatment but his condition is reported to be critical.
As the crowd kept swelling and becoming unmanageable, the police deployed at the venue also resorted to lathicharge, locals said.
Allu Arjun and the team of Pushpa 2 are yet to release an official statement on the incident.
While the release of Pushpa 2 was deemed to be a celebration for Allu Arjun's fans, the incident has now cast a pall of gloom on the film as it officially hit the theatres on Thursday.
Pushpa 2 also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil in key roles. The film is poised to shatter all records at the Indian box office, as according to reports, it has grossed close to Rs 70 crore in advance bookings itself.
To top it, the Andhra Pradesh government also allowed the makers and theatres to hike the price of tickets in the state. "I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for approving the ticket hike. This progressive decision demonstrates your steadfast commitment to the growth and prosperity of the Telugu film industry," Allu Arjun wrote, thanking the government.
