Dandiya night turns tragic at Hyderabad college as student killed

Hyderabad: An engineering student was killed and several others were injured when a metal frame holding lights collapsed during a dandiya night at a college on the outskirts of the city on Saturday, October 17, the police said.

The incident took place around 7.30 pm at MVSR Engineering College in Nadergul, under the Adibatla Police Station limits. A large number of students had gathered on the campus ground for the event.

According to the police, a stage had been put up on the ground with a large metal frame for lighting, and a similar frame had been set up at another spot. One of these frames suddenly came down on the students who were dancing.

The college staff and students rushed the injured to hospitals. The injured were shifted to private hospitals in LB Nagar and Adibatla for treatment, the police said.

Police identified the deceased as Sona, a first-year engineering student. They said 15 others were injured but out of danger. Adibatla Inspector S Ramesh said another student had been taken to a private hospital and her condition was being ascertained. 

Police said the fixture collapsed due to wind. A purported video of the incident shows the metal frame falling on the crowd.

A student alleged that police who reached the spot found no permission had been obtained for the event, Deccan Chronicle reported. The student also claimed the truss, about 80 feet tall, stood without visible support. Students said the college had not contacted them officially after the accident.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the death and conveyed his condolences to the family. He directed officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured, and ordered that those responsible be identified and strict action taken, his office said in a statement.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao expressed grief over the deaths of two students in the incident and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Student unions urged college managements and authorities to take charge of crowd management, arrange emergency medical services and inspect temporary structures before events.

Adibatla Police have registered a case and are investigating the cause of the collapse.

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