Nearly a year after a tragic stampede at Hyderabad's Sandhya Theatre during a visit by superstar Allu Arjun, the family of the most severely injured victim finds itself caught between gratitude and despair. The incident, which occurred on December 4, 2023, claimed the life of a young mother and left her eight-year-old son, Sritej, critically injured. While financial aid was promised, the child's father now reveals the ongoing battle to cover colossal medical bills.
A Father's Viral Gratitude and Present Hardship
Recently, a video resurfaced online showing Sritej's father, Magudampalli Bhaskar, expressing profound thanks to the actor. In the clip, shared widely on social media, Bhaskar acknowledged Allu Arjun's "immense" support after producer Dil Raju confirmed that financial help had been provided. "My son is on the way to recovery. Allu Arjun helped him immensely. It is because of his support that my son is recovering at a good pace," Bhaskar stated in the video.
However, in a recent interview with ABN, Bhaskar painted a starkly different picture of their current reality. He explained that his son, who spent 146 days in KIMS Hospital before being discharged, now continues treatment at a neuro-rehabilitation centre. Bhaskar, who had to quit his job at a gold shop to become a full-time caretaker, detailed the crushing financial burden.
The Mounting Medical Costs and Ex Gratia Shortfall
The father disclosed that Sritej's monthly medical expenses are approximately Rs 90,000, with additional costs pushing the total monthly outlay to nearly Rs 1.25 lakh. He also mentioned spending an extra Rs 3 lakh this year solely on surgeries for his son's legs. The child cannot eat, drink, or breathe independently, requiring constant care.
Bhaskar confirmed that a Rs 2 crore ex gratia amount was deposited for Sritej's future, as announced by Allu Arjun's father, Allu Aravind, in December 2023. The package comprised Rs 1 crore from Allu Arjun, Rs 50 lakh from Mythri Movie Makers, and Rs 50 lakh from director Sukumar. Despite this, Bhaskar claims the interest generated from this corpus is insufficient to meet the relentless and rising treatment costs. He added that attempts to contact the actor's team for further assistance, as promised for rehabilitation support, have gone unanswered.
Official Response and Aftermath of the Incident
When questioned about the family's plea being ignored, Allu Arjun's spokesperson referred to producer Bunny Vas's statement from a recent event. Bunny Vas requested the matter not be discussed on that platform, indicating, "There are many pedda manushulu (respectable people) in between. Anything that we’re doing, we’re doing it through Dil Raju garu."
He clarified that Allu Arjun is not directly involved in fund allocation, emphasizing a systematic approach. "We are determining where the fund should be allocated, including its use for medical purposes and other considerations. We put a system in place. If they are dissatisfied or the money isn’t enough, they can speak to the pedda manushulu," Vas explained.
The stampede's immediate aftermath saw Allu Arjun arrested by Hyderabad police on December 13, 2023. Although granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court the same day, procedural delays resulted in an overnight stay in custody. Producer Dil Raju was appointed as a mediator through the Telangana Film Development Corporation (TGFDC) to oversee the support process.
One year later, the human cost of the tragedy continues to unfold, highlighting the gap between immediate relief promises and the long-term financial reality of catastrophic injury recovery.
