Sandhya theatre stampede survivor undergoing rehab; Allu Aravind pledges continued support
Hyderabad: Producer Allu Aravind visited nine-year-old Sritej at a neurorehabilitation center in Hyderabad on Monday, May 5, 2025, where the child is recovering after being seriously injured in the December 2024 stampede at Sandhya Theatre.
Allu Aravind met with doctors to assess Sritej’s condition and assured continued support from the Pushpa 2 team.
Speaking to the media, Allu Aravind said, “Our entire family is eagerly waiting for Sritej’s full recovery.” He added that actor Allu Arjun and the Pushpa team have already deposited ₹2 crore into the child’s account to aid his treatment. Aravind expressed satisfaction with Sritej’s progress, stating that the boy is responding well to care.
Sritej was discharged from KIMS Cuddles Hospital in Secunderabad on April 29, 2025, after nearly five months of treatment. Doctors said he no longer requires respiratory support and has begun taking oral feeds. However, he remains on a liquid diet through a feeding pipe and has not regained full brain function or the ability to recognize family members.
The child was moved out of the ICU two weeks ago and transferred to the rehabilitation center for further neurological and physical therapy. Doctors have advised a minimum of 15 more days of rehab before he can return home.
Sritej’s family expressed their gratitude to the Pushpa 2 team, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, and the hospital staff for their ongoing support. “Right from the day of hospitalisation, we’ve had all the support we needed. The hospital staff and KIMS management never demanded any money, even at discharge,” said his father, Magudampalli Bhaskar.
The stampede occurred on December 4, 2024, when a large crowd gathered at Sandhya Theatre for the Pushpa 2 premiere featuring Allu Arjun. Sritej’s mother, Revathi, died of suffocation in the incident, while the boy was critically injured. Bhaskar later filed a police complaint alleging that the stampede resulted from lack of crowd control and the actor’s sudden appearance.
Producer Allu Aravind paid a visit to Sritej at the rehabilitation center. During his visit, he met with the medical team to get an update on Sritej’s health condition.
Speaking to the media, Aravind expressed optimism, saying, “Our entire family is eagerly waiting for Sritej’s… pic.twitter.com/NkY1ahqhyr
— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) May 5, 2025
