Injury to Uma Thomas: GCDA holds organisers responsible for incident

The police have asked the organisers not to remove the stage and other settings as part of the investigation into the safety lapses at the site.
| Photo Credit: H. VIBHU

The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has pinned the blame on Mridanga Vision, the organisers of Sunday’s dance event at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, for the incident in which Uma Thomas, MLA, was seriously injured after falling from a temporary gallery.

“While permitting the event, we made it clear to the organisers that any temporary structure could only be erected with prior approval from the Kochi Corporation, Fire and Rescue Services, and other stakeholders. They were also required to ensure adequate safety and security measures. However, the temporary gallery for guests was set up on Saturday (December 28) night in violation of these conditions,” The GCDA, which owns the stadium, said in a statement.

The GCDA added that going forward, it would ensure event organisers strictly adhere to safety norms. This would include steps to improve coordination among the police, Kochi Corporation, Fire and Rescue Services, District Disaster Management Authority, and the Electrical Inspectorate.

Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) president Mohammed Shiyas criticised the organisers of the dance event, in which around 12,000 dancers participated in an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records, for their negligence regarding the safety of guests. “It is shocking that Ms. Thomas fell off the gallery in front of Minister for Culture Saji Cherian, GCDA Chairman Chandran Pillai, and an ADGP. Yet, neither the GCDA, which owns the stadium nor the organisers are taking responsibility. Medical care was also not available within the stadium,” he said.

The temporary gallery from which Ms. Thomas fell was erected without the mandatory clearances from the police and Fire and Rescue Services, highlighting a complete lack of accountability from the organisers and other stakeholders, he pointed out. The issues, along with allegations of financial irregularities in the event’s organisation, should be thoroughly investigated, he added.