Kochi CUSAT Stampede: Union Minister Slams Kerala Govt, Says 'CM Vijayan Didn't Give Due Importance'

Muraleedharan blamed the Kerala government for security lapses at the concert, which led to the incident.

File photo of Union Minister V Muraleedharan

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Union Minister V Muraleedharan on Sunday slammed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for not visiting the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) where four people, including three students, lost their lives in a tragic stampede on Saturday.

He also blamed the Kerala government for security lapses at the concert, which led to the incident, reported news agency PTI.

"The loss of four lives in the stampede that happened in the CUSAT yesterday is a very painful incident...There was a serious lapse on the part of the organizers...This is the same place where very recently...there was a bomb explosion and six people lost their lives. The state government should fix the responsibility. Who is accountable for such things happening in Kerala?... The commissioner says that permission was not sought...The chief minister has not given the due importance that should be given by the ruler of the state," he said.

#WATCH | CUSAT Stampede | Union Minister V Muraleedharan says, "The loss of four lives in the stampede that happened in the CUSAT yesterday is a very painful incident...There was a serious lapse on the part of the organizers...This is the same place where very recently...there… pic.twitter.com/lklxyvF0Kj

— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2023

According to PTI, of the four persons who died, three -- Athul Thampi (23), Sara Thomas (19) and Ann Rifta Roy (20) -- were students of the School of Engineering in CUSAT, and the fourth -- Palakkad-based Alwin -- an electrician who had ended up at the festival by chance.

Meanwhile, the condition of two other injured students -- Sheba and Geethanjali -- continues to be critical, CUSAT said in a statement.

A Health department bulletin confirmed this and said that five others were in the ICU and 35 were admitted in wards, undergoing treatment, reported PTI.

Besides them, 20 others were treated as out patients in various hospitals here, the bulletin said.

CUSAT, in its statement, said it would be organising a condolence meeting at 10 am on Monday, November 27, at the auditorium of the School of Management Studies, to mourn the demise of the students.

"All classes and examinations scheduled on November 27 have been postponed. The updated schedule of examinations will be intimated later," it said.

"The classes at School of Engineering, CUSAT are suspended for three days. The school will reopen for regular classes on Thursday, November 30," it added.