Four students died and at least 64 others were injured in a stampede at a university in Kochi. The incident took place at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) on Saturday and four of the injured students are in critical condition, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said.
A tech fest was being held and singer Nikhita Gandhi was performing at an open-air auditorium in the campus. Reports said entry was restricted to those holding passes but the situation took a turn when it began raining. People waiting outside rushed into the auditorium to take shelter, leading to a stampede, and some students slipped and fell.
An emergency meeting of ministers, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was held at the government guest house in Kozhikode at 8:30 pm on Saturday. The ministers expressed their condolences and it was decided that all celebratory and artistic events scheduled for Sunday as part of the Nava Kerala Sadas, an outreach programme of the CPM, will be cancelled in view of the tragedy.
At least 64 students are undergoing treatment for injuries at various hospitals. Ms George said two boys and two girls were brought dead at the Kalamassery Medical College in Kochi.
"The news is extremely unfortunate. 46 people were brought to the Kalamassery medical college with injuries. Four were brought dead, of which two were boys and two were girls. The condition of four is critical. Two of them are in a private hospital and the other two are undergoing treatment at a government hospital," the health minister.
She added, "18 injured people are admitted to a private hospital. We alerted the hospitals as soon as we found out. A team of doctors is collecting information from the hospitals."
At the ministers' meeting, Industry Minister P Rajeev and Higher Education Minister Dr R Bindhu was asked to go to Kalamassery, where the university is located, to coordinate relief efforts while Ms George will look into matters related to the treatment of the injured. The chief minister has also issued instructions to ensure the injured get proper treatment.
Municipal Councillor Pramod said the fact that the same gate was being used for entry and exit contributed to the stampede.
"Exit and entrance through the same gate led to the stampede. Students were trying to enter through the same gate. Students who were entering through the steep steps fell down first and the huge crowd at the gate stomped on them again and again,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
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