Fatal accident at MVSR college during Dandiya event in Hyderabad outskirts
Hyderabad — A first-year engineering student was killed and 14 others sustained injuries after a decorative arch collapsed during a college Dandiya programme at MVSR Engineering College in Nadergul on the outskirts of the city on Saturday evening, officials said.
The deceased has been identified as Sona Narayan Das, a first-year student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. The incident occurred at around 7:30 pm when an arch erected and decorated with lighting suddenly came down. More than 600 people were present at the venue at the time, according to a police report cited by news agency PTI.
Sona was rushed to a nearby private hospital after sustaining severe injuries but succumbed while undergoing treatment. Her sister, Meena Narayan Das, was among those injured. Authorities said the other 14 injured students are out of danger.
- Location: MVSR Engineering College, Nadergul (Hyderabad outskirts)
- Time: about 7:30 pm on Saturday
- People present: over 600
- Casualties: 1 dead, 14 injured
Police and college officials said strong winds caused the arch — which was decorated with lighting for the Dandiya programme — to collapse. The report cited by PTI described the failure as sudden, without indicating structural defects or other immediate causes beyond the weather conditions.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and ordered advanced medical care to the injured, and assured strict action against those responsible, a government release said.
The Chief Minister’s office issued a release stating that Revanth Reddy has conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family, directed that the injured receive advanced medical treatment, and asked officials to take strict action against those found responsible. The nature and scope of the prospective action were not detailed in the release.
Immediate response and implications for campus events
Local police and college authorities carried out on-site checks following the collapse. Standard emergency protocols were invoked to evacuate attendees and transfer the injured to nearby medical facilities. The incident has raised questions about event safety and temporary structure standards at college cultural gatherings in and around Hyderabad.
MVSR Engineering College, located in Nadergul, is one of several engineering institutions on the city’s periphery that host large cultural events. With hundreds of students and visitors attending such programmes, the collapse has prompted calls from some quarters for stricter oversight of event arrangements, weather contingency planning, and adherence to safety norms for temporary installations.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| People present | 600+ |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injured | 14 (reported as out of danger) |
| Time of incident | ~7:30 pm |
Officials have so far attributed the collapse to strong winds. There was no immediate information on whether permissions, structural assessments or engineering clearances for the temporary arch had been obtained prior to the event; further inquiries were being pursued, according to the police account relayed through PTI.
The tragedy underscores risks associated with temporary event structures, particularly during evening outdoor programmes when weather conditions can change rapidly. Families of the injured and local student communities are awaiting further details on any administrative or legal action to follow.
State authorities have said they will investigate the circumstances and hold those responsible to account as per the Chief Minister’s directive. The college administration has been asked to cooperate with investigators and to facilitate medical care for the injured.
This incident comes amid heightened public attention to safety at mass gatherings across India; Hyderabad civic agencies and educational institutions may face increased scrutiny on event permits and emergency preparedness in the coming days.
