CUSAT STAMPEDE

CUSAT stampede: Lapses in arrangements led to tragedy, say police

Kochi: A team led by Thrikkakkara ACP will probe into the stampede at the CUSAT campus that claimed four lives on Saturday. Police have registered a case for unnatural death and observed that lapses in the programme arrangements led to the tragedy.

Probe team is likely to book the organisers in the case. They registered the case on Saturday after recording the witnesses' statements. A detailed investigation will be launched on Sunday after recording statements of more people and collecting evidence from the accident spot, sources said.

The accident occurred in an open-air auditorium ahead of a music concert by Nikhita Gandhi that was organised as part of the university's annual tech fest 'Dhishna'.

Higher education minister orders probe
State Higher Education Minister R Bindhu has directed a three-member team, comprising the principal secretary of higher education, Cochin University's vice-chancellor and registrar, to inquire into the incident, an official release said.
The minister has instructed the officials to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report, the release added.

Meanwhile, the autopsy of the four people killed in the accident will be held at Kalamassery Government Medical College and Ernakulam General Hospital on Sunday morning. Three Cusat students -- Athul Thampi from Koothattukulam, Paravur native Ann Ruftha and Sara Thomas from Thamarassery -- and Palakkad native Alwin Joseph, who arrived to watch the show, are the deceased. According to reports, Alwin, an electrician reached the campus along with his friends.

Public homage at CUSAT
After autopsy, the mortal remains of the three students were taken to the university campus. Fellow students, faculty members and friends paid their last respects to the deceased. 

Athul Thampi's funeral will be held on Sunday at Koothattululam and Sara's last rites will be performed on Monday in Kozhikode's Thamarassery. As Ann Rufta's mother who is working in Italy not reached Kerala, her funeral will be held on Tuesday. Albin's last rites will be performed at Mundur in Palakkad on Sunday evening.

According to reports, entry to the concert was restricted with gate passes. However, the situation went out of control after it rained and those who were waiting outside rushed into the auditorium to take shelter, causing stampede. When the people forcibly entered the auditorium, students who were standing on the stairs fell down and the crowd trampled them.

Two in critical condition
Among the 38 people undergoing treatment at hospitals, two are in critical condition. Malappuram native Sheba and Geethanjali from Alappuzha are identified as the two in critical condition at Aster Medcity. In Government Medical College Hospital, three are admitted to ICU and 31 are undergoing treatment in the ward. Two of the injured are admitted to Kinder Hospital here, while 16 were discharged from the hospital on Saturday.