Pushpa 2 stampede: Allu Arjun visits injured boy at Hyderabad hospital

Hyderabad: Tollywood superstar Allu Arjun on Tuesday visited KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad to meet Sri Tej, the eight-year-old boy critically injured in the stampede during the premier show of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' at Sandhya Theatre last month.

The actor, accompanied by Telangana State Film Development Corporation Chairman Dil Raju, arrived at the hospital amid tight police security in the morning and spent about 30 minutes there. He enquired with doctors about the boy’s condition, met Sri Tej’s father, and assured the family of his full support.

Allu Arjun initially planned to visit the hospital on January 5, following his scheduled reporting at Chikkadpally Police Station as mandated by a city court while granting him regular bail. However, the actor had to postpone his plans after Ramgopalpet Police Station issued a notice advising him to reconsider the visit. The police expressed concerns over potential public and media gatherings at the hospital, which could disrupt its peaceful environment.

The actor was warned that if his visit caused disturbances, he would bear sole responsibility for any consequences. A follow-up notice was issued on January 6, reiterating the need for confidentiality and offering police support to maintain public order during the visit.

The tragic stampede occurred on December 4 during the premier show, which Allu Arjun had attended. The incident claimed the life of a woman named Revathi and left her son Sri Tej critically injured. The police alleged that the actor’s unpermitted visit to the theatre and his ‘roadshow’ caused the chaotic situation that led to the tragedy.

Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13 in connection with the case but was granted interim bail by the High Court the same day. The Nampally Court later granted him regular bail, directing him to cooperate with the investigation and report to the concerned police station every Sunday.

The actor faced criticism for not visiting the injured boy or consoling the deceased woman’s family earlier. His father, producer Allu Aravind, had visited the hospital twice and, during his last visit on December 25, handed over a cheque for ₹2 crore to the victim’s family. Allu Arjun personally contributed ₹1 crore, while the film’s producers, Mythri Movie Makers, and director Sukumar extended financial assistance of ₹50 lakh each.

This visit marks a significant step by Allu Arjun to directly address the concerns of the victim’s family and fulfill his commitment to supporting them during this difficult time.

With IANS inputs