Hyderabad: One Student Dead, 12 Injured as Lighting Poles Collapse at MVSR Engineering College Dandiya Event
A 21-year-old female student was killed and at least 12 others were injured after lighting poles collapsed during a Dandiya event at MVSR Engineering College in Nadergul, Adibatla, on Saturday evening. The incident triggered panic among hundreds of students who had gathered for the cultural festivities.
The deceased has been identified as Sony, a student from Wanaparthy district. Her sister, who was also present at the event, is among the injured and is reported to be in critical condition at a hospital in LB Nagar. The injured students were rushed to private hospitals in LB Nagar and Adibatla for treatment, with at least five of them reported to be in serious condition.
Sequence of events
The Dandiya event was part of Sangamam-2026, a two-day national-level technical and cultural fest organised by the college on October 16 and 17. The event brought together students from various institutions to showcase technical projects, innovations and cultural performances. Around 6:30 pm on Saturday, as students were participating in the Dandiya dance, several lighting poles erected for the event suddenly collapsed, falling onto the crowd.
College staff and fellow students immediately began rescue efforts, pulling injured participants from the debris and arranging for their transfer to nearby hospitals. The Adibatla police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances that led to the collapse of the lighting poles.
Allegations of negligence
Following the accident, allegations of negligence have surfaced against the college management. Students and local residents have questioned the adequacy of safety measures taken during the event, particularly regarding the installation of heavy lighting structures in an area crowded with participants. Demands for strict action against those responsible for the accident have been raised.
Police officials stated that they are examining whether proper permissions were obtained for the event and whether the structural setup complied with safety norms. The investigation will also look into who authorised the installation of the lighting poles and whether any professional oversight was exercised.
Datos clave
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | MVSR Engineering College, Nadergul, Adibatla |
| Event | Sangamam-2026, two-day national-level technical and cultural fest |
| Casualties | 1 dead (Sony, 21, from Wanaparthy), 12+ injured |
| Status | Adibatla police investigating; negligence allegations under scrutiny |
Impact on students and families
The incident has sent shockwaves through the student community in Hyderabad and surrounding districts. MVSR Engineering College, a well-known institution in the Ranga Reddy district, typically sees large participation in its annual fest. For many students, the event was meant to be a celebration of cultural diversity and technical talent, but it ended in tragedy.
Sony’s family from Wanaparthy has been informed and is expected to arrive in Hyderabad. The condition of her sister, who remains in critical care, is being closely monitored by hospital staff. Other injured students are receiving treatment, and college authorities have said they are cooperating with the investigation.
Broader concerns about campus event safety
This incident raises serious questions about safety protocols during large-scale campus events in Hyderabad. Engineering colleges across the city frequently host technical and cultural fests that involve temporary structures, lighting and sound equipment, and large crowds. The collapse of lighting poles at MVSR highlights the risks when such installations are not properly anchored or inspected.
Students and parents have called for stricter enforcement of safety guidelines for college events, including mandatory structural audits for temporary stages, lighting towers, and sound equipment. The Hyderabad district administration may now come under pressure to issue fresh directives to all educational institutions regarding event safety.
What happens next
The Adibatla police investigation is expected to determine whether the college management or event organisers were negligent in ensuring the safety of participants. Depending on the findings, legal action under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those dealing with causing death by negligence, could be initiated.
The college has not yet issued a detailed public statement on the incident. Meanwhile, the injured students remain under medical observation, and the broader student community is mourning the loss of a peer.
Source: Telangana Today – https://telanganatoday.com/hyderabad-student-killed-12-injured-in-engineering-college-dandiya-mishap