A large sound and lighting structure reportedly collapsed during the pre-release event of Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups at Malla Reddy University in Hyderabad on Saturday, August 22, leaving two students injured. A female student reportedly fainted following the incident. Police personnel at the venue rushed to the spot and shifted the injured students to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The mishap occurred as a large crowd of students and fans gathered for the promotional event, with reports suggesting that some students had climbed onto structures supporting the sound equipment. Yash, who was addressing the audience when the incident occurred, reportedly stopped his speech to check on those affected and asked organisers and security personnel to ensure they were safe. The condition of the injured students was not immediately known.
Celebration Turns Chaotic
The incident reportedly took place while Yash was speaking to a packed gathering at the university. According to reports, a large sound box or floodlight structure fell towards students near the stage, triggering panic among those present. Two students were reportedly injured, while one girl was said to have lost consciousness. Police and emergency personnel responded quickly, with the injured students being taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Videos circulating online reportedly show students near or on structures supporting the speakers shortly before the setup collapsed. However, the precise circumstances leading to the collapse have not been officially established. Some reports have attributed the incident to students climbing onto the sound structures, while others have simply described it as a sound or floodlight setup collapsing. It is therefore important not to assign responsibility without an official account or investigation.
Yash reportedly noticed the disturbance from the stage and paused his address to ask whether those affected were safe. “Are they okay? Please check,” he said, according to NDTV’s report. He was also reported to have asked students who had climbed onto structures around the venue to come down, warning that it was unsafe. After checking with the audience, he resumed his speech.
Crowd Safety Questioned
The event had attracted a large number of students and fans, with the venue reportedly witnessing significant crowding around the stage. Reports said police had asked students to move back earlier to avoid overcrowding, although some attendees continued to remain close to the stage and structures carrying event equipment. The collapse has consequently raised questions about crowd management, structural safety and the supervision of temporary installations at large public gatherings.
The event was organised ahead of the worldwide release of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, which is scheduled to reach cinemas on August 26. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film stars Yash alongside Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth. It is set for release in Kannada, English, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam. The film has received an ‘A’ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Large entertainment events can bring thousands of people together in an atmosphere of excitement, but that excitement should never come at the cost of basic safety. Temporary stages, lighting rigs, sound systems and crowd barriers must be properly installed, inspected and monitored, particularly when young audiences are gathered in large numbers. At the same time, attendees also have a responsibility to follow safety instructions and avoid climbing on structures or entering restricted areas.
The incident at the Toxic event is a reminder that preventing accidents requires responsibility from organisers, authorities and audiences alike. As more details emerge about what caused the collapse and whether safety protocols were followed, what steps do you think should be taken to make large-scale college and entertainment events safer?
2 injured & a girl feel unconscious, during
— Aneri Shah Yakkati (@tweet_aneri) August 23, 2026
the pre-release event of #Toxic movie at Malla Reddy University #Hyderabad, a large sound system reportedly collapsed.
Large crowd gathered to catch glimpse of actor #Yash
Police immediately shifted injured to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/L415A5bLsT
