Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, in collaboration with the makers of Pushpa 2, has announced a compensation of Rs 2 crore to the family of the child who was critically injured in a stampede during a screening of the movie in Hyderabad. This tragic incident occurred on December 4, when the actor arrived for the premiere of his much-anticipated film at the Sandhya Theatre. During the chaos, the child’s mother, 36-year-old Revathi, tragically lost her life, while her nine-year-old son, Sri Tej, sustained serious injuries.
The compensation package was arranged in an effort to offer support to the grieving family. Of the Rs 2 crore, Rs 1 crore was provided by Allu Arjun himself, while the film’s production company, Mythri Movies, and the director of Pushpa 2, Sukumar, each contributed Rs 50 lakh. The total amount will be handed over to the family by Dil Raju, a prominent film producer and the chairperson of the Telangana Film Development Corporation.
The announcement of the compensation was made by Allu Arjun’s father, Allu Aravind, who personally visited KIMS Hospital in Hyderabad to check on the condition of Sri Tej. He reported that the child’s recovery was progressing well, explaining that Sri Tej had been taken off the ventilator two days earlier and was now breathing on his own. "We are very satisfied with his recovery," Aravind remarked. "He was previously on ventilation, but in the last few days, he has come off it, and he is breathing by himself. The doctors say this is a very good sign and that he is going to recover fast." This news was a relief to the family and those following the case, providing hope after such a traumatic event.
This compassionate gesture follows the tragic event, which took place when a stampede broke out during the premiere screening. Authorities had initially reported that the crowd had become uncontrollable as people gathered to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun, resulting in a deadly stampede. The tragedy left one person dead and several others injured, with Sri Tej among the most critically affected. While the compensation serves as an attempt to provide financial assistance, the emotional and psychological toll on the family is irreplaceable.
The decision to provide compensation came after Allu Arjun faced significant public scrutiny over the incident. A day after the stampede, the actor was questioned by the Hyderabad Police for about four hours. During the interrogation, Arjun stated that he was unaware of Revathi’s death until the following day. Sources indicate that he expressed regret over the tragedy but maintained that he had not been informed about the magnitude of the situation on the night of the screening.
Following the incident, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was vocal in criticizing Allu Arjun’s actions. He accused the actor of continuing with the event despite the police denying permission for the gathering. The Chief Minister further condemned Arjun for reportedly holding a roadshow and waving to the crowd, which, according to Reddy, exacerbated the chaos and led to more disorder after the stampede occurred. The ongoing investigation into the incident will likely explore the circumstances around crowd management, the role of the organizers, and the appropriateness of Allu Arjun’s actions during the screening.
While the compensation is being viewed as a gesture of goodwill towards the family, it has also sparked a broader conversation about safety measures at public events, especially those involving celebrities and large crowds. In light of this incident, many are calling for stricter regulations and better crowd control strategies to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation into the event, looking into all aspects of the incident, from the lack of proper crowd management to the possible negligence by event organizers.
The tragic death of Revathi and the critical condition of Sri Tej have left a lasting impact on the local community. The support extended by Allu Arjun and the filmmakers is seen as a positive step, but the incident has also raised questions about the responsibilities of celebrities and event organizers in ensuring the safety of attendees at high-profile events.
