Hundred throng to pay homage to students killed in stampede at Cusat tech festival

Hundreds paid homage to the bodies of three students, who died in a stampede at the venue of Inter University TechFest in Kalamassery

The bodies of three students, who died in a stampede at the venue of Inter University TechFest in Kalamassery on Saturday have been brought to the School of Engineering auditorium at the Cusat campus for the public to pay their homage.

As hundreds of students have thronged the venue a pall of gloom has descended on the campus. The students will be allowed to a look at their companions now as the police and University authorities make arrangements to control the crowd.

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Earlier, Ministers P. Rajeeve and R. Bindu visited the campus along with top police officials and district collector NSK Umesh.

At least four students were killed and 61 were injured in a stampede at an auditorium on the main campus of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) where a tech fest was concluding on Saturday. Eyewitnesses said that the auditorium was jam-packed before the start of the music show. Those who rushed in did not realise that they were running into students, said a person.

Education Minister R. Bindu said, “A three member committee of experts will be constituted to study the circumstances leading to the tragic incident. The committee will also suggest ways to avoid such tragedies in the future.”

The university authorities said they did not anticipate such a crowd. Students from other educational institutions had also turned up at the venue for the music show. The gate at the entrance was kept locked to control the rush. But the situation went out of control when those waiting outside barged in amidst the sudden downpour.