On May 18, Vedan’s concert at Kotta Maithanam in Palakkad, Kerala, turned chaotic due to an overwhelming crowd that overwhelmed both organisers and law enforcement, resulting in multiple injuries. Reports confirm that at least 15 people were hurt during the incident, though no fatalities have been reported so far. All injured individuals were promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
What Unfolded at the Concert?
According to a report from Mathrubhumi, the concert was originally scheduled to begin at 6 PM. However, the large turnout forced police to close the gates shortly after opening. Social media users claimed that Vedan took the stage only at 8 PM, which caused frustration among the waiting crowd. This delay, combined with the entry point chaos, led to crowd surges and some attendees collapsing.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
#BREAKING: 4 students dead, over 40 injured after a stampede breaks out during singer Nikhita Gandhi’s concert in Kochi pic.twitter.com/M3235OV0s1
— Akshita Nandagopal (@Akshita_N) November 25, 2023
#Kerala : At least fifteen people were injured in a stampede-like situation during a music event by rapper Vedan at Kottamaithanam in #Palakkad on Sunday evening.
The incident occurred as a crowd surged forward, forcing police to resort to lathi-charge multiple times to bring… pic.twitter.com/sZpUl5ZIcF
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) May 18, 2025
The situation worsened after a scuffle broke out between the police and event organisers, prompting the police to conduct 4-5 rounds of lathi charge to regain control. Vedan performed three songs between 8 and 9 PM but left the stage hastily as the chaos escalated.
Earlier that day, Vedan had a warm reception from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a state event. This high-profile meeting reportedly boosted public interest in the concert, likely contributing to the unexpectedly large crowd.
Neither Vedan nor local authorities have issued an official statement regarding the incident as of now.
