Astroworld tragedy: Indian-origin student Bharti Shahani succumbs to injuries, death toll rises to 9

Bharti Shahani, the Indian-origin Texas student who was declared brain dead after sustaining injuries at Travis Scott's Astroworld concert earlier this week, has died.

Texas student Bharti Shahani has succumbed to injuries sustained at the Astroworld Festival. (Photo: GoFundMe)

Bharti Shahani, a Texas A&M University computer science student, died from “horrific injuries” sustained at the Astroworld Festival, a lawyer for the family, said on Thursday. A stampede of fans during rap star Travis Scott‘s Astroworld Festival on Friday killed nine people between the ages of 14 and 27 and injured scores. A 9-year-old boy remains hospitalised in critical condition, police have said.

Shahani attended the concert with her sister and cousin who survived. “We want to make sure that the people who decided to put profits over the safety of the lives of children are held responsible,” said family lawyer James Lassiter in a news conference attended by Shahani’s family. Scott on Thursday asked victims to reach out to him, saying he “desperately wishes to share his condolences and provide aid,” according to a statement. The rapper earlier offered to pay for funeral costs and mental health counselling.

Police are continuing to interview witnesses and are building a timeline of events leading to the deaths, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said on Wednesday.

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Also read | Astroworld Tragedy: Indian-origin student Bharti Shahani brain dead, father says ‘chances of survival are nothing’

Mohit Bellani, Shahani’s cousin who also attended the performance, said barricades hemmed in attendees and prevented them from escaping the crushing stampede. “If they hadn’t packed us in with barriers on all three
sides, maybe this wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

Authorities informed the promoter during Scott’s performance that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was under way on one or more attendees and asked for the concert to be halted, Finner said. Scott’s attorney criticised police statements as inconsistent. Houston officials should stop “fingerpointing so that together we can identify exactly what transpired and how we can prevent anything like this from happening again,” said attorney Edwin McPherson.

At least 50 lawsuits have been filed against producer Live Nation Entertainment Inc and Scott because of deaths and
injuries related to Friday’s concert

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