A year after Sandhya Theatre stampede, young survivor struggles with only 5% recovery

A year after the stampede at Sandhya Theatre in RTC X roads during the premiere of Allu Arjun starrer ‘Pushpa-2’, nine-year-old survivor M. Sritej has shown only 5% recovery and continues to undergo intensive neuro-rehabilitation in Hyderabad.

Speaking to The Hindu, a family member said that progress of the victim has been painfully slow despite round-the-clock care. “He is unable to talk, eat or drink on his own, and sometimes even struggles to breathe,” the relative said, describing a year marked by uncertainty and heavy emotional strain.

Eight-years-old at the time of the incident, Sritej suffered severe brain injury and oxygen supply to his brain was cut off during the stampede. Doctors say the damage was extensive, and that recovery depends on the brain gradually regaining the ability to interpret signals.

After being admitted to KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad, in a semi-conscious state with dangerously low oxygen saturation on the night of December 4, 2024, he was immediately intubated and placed on ventilator support in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. He remained there for over four months before being discharged on April 29, 2025 and moved to a neuro-rehabilitation facility for long-term treatment.

For the family, the past year has felt frozen in grief. Sritej’s mother, 35-year-old M. Revathi, died in the stampede. She, her husband Bhaskar, and their two children had gone to the screening because Sritej was an ardent fan of Allu Arjun, an outing that turned into devastation. “Life has not moved at all for us. We lost her, and now he is fighting every day,” the family member said.

The financial burden has been equally crushing. According to Sritej’s father, Magudampalli Bhaskar, the family needs nearly ₹90,000 a month for treatment every month, besides the additional expenses. “The treatment is expensive, and we need more help. We had reached out to the film industry representatives about 15 days ago but did not hear from them. Today, we finally got a call from the industry, and they said they will cooperate,” he said.

Mr. Bhaskar is now raising his son, daughter and elderly mother alone, navigating both the loss of his wife and the unrelenting demands of long-term care.

A case was booked by the Chikkadpally police against actor Allu Arjun, his personal security staff and the management of Sandhya Theatre, investigation into which is still underway.