Ernakulam: An investigation has been initiated by the higher education department after four people lost their lives in a stampede that occurred on the eve of a music night organised as part of the Tech Fest at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) campus in Kalamassery. Kerala’s Higher Education Minister, R Bindu has asked the Principal Secretary of Higher Education and the University Vice Chancellor to submit their inquiry reports. The University Vice-Chancellor informed that a lapse occurred in the process of dropping off students in the auditorium. Preliminary investigations have pointed to the overcrowding of students at the entrance gate as the cause of the incident.
The minister announced that the higher education department would conduct an investigation into the incident. A three-member committee of technical experts has been formed to delve into the circumstances surrounding the stampede. The minister emphasised the need for a roadmap for future programmes, including Tech Fest, to ensure the safety of participants.
Minister R Bindu addressed the press, stating that the university regularly follows established guidelines for organising events like tech fests and competitions. This incident marks the first of its kind. The Minister affirmed that thorough investigations are underway and that all necessary precautions will be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.
“So now we will find out the reasons, and we’ll try to avoid incidents in the future. I have already ordered the Principal Secretary, Higher Education, and the University Vice Chancellor to submit their reports. After that, we will provide further details,” she said.
Kerala’s Law Minister, P Rajeev described it as a shocking incident. “We lost three students and one outsider. This happened in Kerala for the first time. It’s an unexpected thing. We came and visited all the patients in the ward. Two patients are in the ICU. Two students are in the ICU of another hospital. We are trying our best to give them the best treatment.”
“The government has taken all steps to coordinate all these activities. Police have taken the rescue operations whenever they get the information. And the health minister is directly involved in this. Coordinating all treatment facilities not only in the medical colleges but in the private hospitals as well,” added P Rajeev.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), MR Ajith Kumar, called the incident a “freak accident” and said that the sudden rains in the area drove the huge crowd of students to the stampede since all of the students tried to take cover from the rainfall.
The stampede occurred just before singer Nikhita Gandhi’s performance at an open-air auditorium on the CUSAT campus. The victims have been identified as CUSAT students Athul Thampi from Koothattukulam, Ann Ruftha from Paravur, Sara Thomas from Thamarassery, and an outsider named Alwin Joseph from Palakkad who had arrived to watch the show.
Two individuals remain in critical condition among the 38 people currently undergoing medical treatment. Kalamassery police have registered a case in connection with the incident.
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