Four students lost their lives and over 60 others sustained injuries in a stampede that occurred during a tech festival held at the Cochin University of Science And Technology (CUSAT) in Kerala on Saturday.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George confirmed the tragic news, stating that the four students were declared dead upon arrival at the government medical college and hospital in Kalamassery, located near Kochi.
Ernakulam district collector NSK Unmesh provided an update on the injured, revealing that two individuals were in a critical condition.
He also informed that all hospitals in the city had been alerted in the wake of the incident.
While the identities of all the deceased students have yet to be determined, authorities are also struggling to identify two men and two women among the injured.
STORY | Four students died and several others were injured in a stampede at Cochin University in Kerala. The tragedy occurred during the university's anniversary celebrations.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 25, 2023
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According to police reports, the stampede occurred during a musical event at the university's open-air auditorium.
A large crowd, including students from other colleges, was present at the event.
As heavy rain began to fall, hundreds of people rushed towards the auditorium seeking shelter, leading to the stampede.
The tragedy unfolded when a few students slipped on the auditorium steps, causing others to fall on top of them.