A student was killed and 17 others were injured after a metal lighting frame collapsed on students during a dandiya event at MVSR Engineering College in Nadergul, Hyderabad, on Saturday evening. The incident occurred at about 7.30pm while students had gathered for the celebration on the college campus in Adibatla.
A video of the incident showed the metal structure toppling onto the gathering, triggering panic among students. College staff and fellow students rushed to help those affected and shifted the injured to different hospitals, according to police and the Chief Minister’s Office.
The deceased student was reportedly identified as Sona, Adibatla inspector S Ramesh said. Ramesh said the 17 injured students were safe and had suffered minor injuries. Police were also checking on the condition of another girl who had been shifted to a private hospital.
The event included a stage set up on one section of the college ground and a large metal frame erected to support decorative lights. Another similar structure had reportedly been installed elsewhere on the ground. The collapse took place as students were attending the festivities.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the death and conveyed his condolences to the student’s family. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office on Saturday night, he directed officials to ensure that the injured students received the best medical treatment.
The Chief Minister also instructed police and other authorities to identify those responsible and initiate stringent action. The direction places responsibility for establishing how the temporary structure was designed, installed and supervised with the investigating authorities. The supplied report did not provide details on whether the structure had undergone a safety inspection or whether permissions for the event and temporary installations had been issued.
The incident has brought immediate attention to safety arrangements at large college gatherings, where temporary stages, lighting frames and other event infrastructure are erected in spaces used by students. The police investigation will determine the circumstances that led to the collapse and whether any negligence or violation of safety requirements was involved.
The injured students remained under medical care as authorities began checking their condition. Police were expected to continue the investigation and identify those responsible, while officials were directed to monitor treatment and provide medical support to the injured.
