A 19-year-old engineering student was killed and 14 others were injured after an iron pole supporting a heavy lighting system collapsed during dandiya celebrations at Maturi Venkata Subba Rao (MVSR) Engineering College in Nadargul, on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

The deceased was identified as Sona, a first-year student of the college, and a native of Wanaparthy district.

According to preliminary information, the incident occurred when a large number of students and staff had gathered on the college campus for dandiya celebrations organised as part of the Dasara festivities.

An officer from the Adibatla police said that an iron pole installed to support the lighting arrangements for the evening programme suddenly collapsed, reportedly following a strong gust of wind, and fell on students participating in the celebrations.

The heavy structure came crashing down while students were dancing, leaving several trapped beneath the fallen equipment and triggering panic among those gathered at the venue.

Fellow students and college staff immediately rushed to their rescue, helping remove the fallen structure and pulling the injured from beneath the debris. The injured were rushed to a nearby private hospital for emergency treatment. While 14 persons sustained injuries, the condition of some was reported to be critical.

Local police reached the college after receiving information about the incident and initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

Investigators are examining whether the lighting structure had been properly secured and whether adequate safety precautions were taken while installing the equipment for the celebrations. Police are also looking into whether negligence in the installation of the lighting system or a technical failure contributed to the accident. Further investigation is under way.