Tue Dec 31 07:26:31 UTC 2024: **MLA Seriously Injured in Kochi Dance Event Collapse; Organizers Blamed**
KOCHI, Kerala – A temporary gallery collapsed at a large dance event in Kochi on Sunday, seriously injuring MLA Uma Thomas. The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which owns the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium where the event took place, has blamed Mridanga Vision, the event organizers, for the incident.
The GCDA stated that the organizers erected the temporary structure without the necessary approvals from the Kochi Corporation, Fire and Rescue Services, and other stakeholders, violating safety regulations. The event, which involved approximately 12,000 dancers attempting a Guinness World Record, lacked adequate safety measures, according to the GCDA. The authority announced plans to improve safety protocols for future events at the stadium, increasing coordination among relevant agencies.
Ernakulam District Congress Committee president Mohammed Shiyas criticized the organizers for negligence, highlighting the lack of readily available medical care at the venue and the absence of required clearances from police and fire services. He called for a thorough investigation into the incident, including allegations of financial irregularities. Police have instructed organizers not to dismantle the stage and other structures to facilitate the ongoing investigation. The injured MLA was reportedly present with the Culture Minister, GCDA Chairman, and an ADGP when the incident occurred.
First Piper 