Kerala CM pays ‘last respects’ to student killed in concert stampede at Cochin University

Just a day after a tragic stampede happened at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in Kerala’s Kochi, killing four students while more than 60 were injured, Chief Minister Pinanrayi Vijayan on Sunday paid his last respects to one of the students killed during a tech-fest.

CM Vijayan attends last rites of one of student who died in stampede

The student, Sara Thomas’ body was brought to Alphonsa School Thamarassery where CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his colleagues in ministry paid their last respects.

#WATCH | Kozhikode: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan pays tribute to Sara Thomas, the student who died at CUSAT Stampede in Kochi yesterday. pic.twitter.com/Y0XSMGpFAo

— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2023

On Saturday evening, the stampede happened during a music concert featuring Nikhita Gandhi. The four people who died were identified as Athul Thambi, native of Koothatukulam; Ann Ruftha from North Paravur; Sara Thomas from Thamarraserry; and Alwin Thaikattusherry. All three are second-year students except for Alwin, who is not a student at CUSAT.

According to the police, 16 out of 64 injured students have been discharged from the hospital so far. Ministers P Rajeev and R Bindu visited the site of the incident on Sunday morning.

Probe on

Taking notes from the stampede incident, Kerala’s Higher Education Minister R Bindu directed the principal secretary of higher education and the university’s vice chancellor to submit their injury reports on the incident.

"This happened around 6.50 p.m. When I arrived here, three to four students were taken to the hospital. It was drizzling. Students rushed in through the only entrance and due to steep steps, they fell over each other, leading to a stampede," Jalsan, an eyewitness to the whole situation at the university, said.