Temporary stage was set up on previous night of event; only caravan and ambulance were inside stadium initially

KOCHI: More information on the security lapses at the Guinness event held at Kaloor Stadium have surfaced. The temporary stage was built on the previous night of the event. The organizers approached the Kochi Corporation on the previous day of the function seeking permission for the programme.

The health officer visited the stadium on the previous day and inspected it. At the time of the inspection, the stage was not built in the gallery. Initially, there was only a caravan and an ambulance inside the stadium.

12,000 dancers were admitted to the stadium through eight counters. The children waited for about two hours to enter the stadium. A mother of a child who participated in the event said that the lapse of the organizers scared them. She also said that many children felt dizzy.

M Nighosh Kumar, the managing director of Mridanga Vision, which organized the mega event, was arrested by the police yesterday. Nigosh Kumar, the first accused in the case, appeared at the Palarivattom station at 2 pm yesterday as per the high court's order.

The Palarivattom police recorded his arrest after seven-and-a-half-hours of interrogation led by senior police officers. The third accused and Oscar Events owner P S Janeesh of Thrissur, has not appeared yet. The police may take steps including arresting him.

A bank account of Mridangam Vision has been frozen. The investigating officers also stated that, if required, the ambassador of the event, actress Divya Unni, who returned to the US on Wednesday night, will be summoned and questioned. Meantime, the court will consider the bail applications of Nigosh Kumar, Mridangam Vision CEO Shemir Abdul Rahim, and Oscar Events Manager Krishna Kumar, arrested in the case, today.