A sudden rush of fans at a screening of actor Vijay’s latest movie, Kaththi, at a small cinema hall on Periyapalayam Main Road in Thiruninravur on Deepavali day proved fatal for the hall owner. The 74-year-old died after he was pushed down in the melee.
The incident took place around 12.40 p.m. on Wednesday at Sri Lakshmi Theatre. Fans who had failed to get tickets at halls in the city made a beeline for theatres in suburban areas. Around noon, over 100 fans arrived at the hall on Periyapalayam Main Road, which had advertised the opening of the Vijay-starrer on its single screen, for the afternoon show.
“Fans thronged the ticket counter and frantically pushed to get tickets. Suddenly, the counter with glass panels gave way, and fell on some of the staff and N. Krishnan, the owner, standing on the other side. The elderly man suffered cuts and was pushed around by the crowd. He fell on the floor and hurt his head,” said an investigating officer. The police rushed to the spot to restore order, while members of the staff took Krishnan to a private hospital in Porur. He failed to respond to treatment and passed away around 7.30 p.m.
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The Thiruninravur police have registered a case of unnatural death.