Storm washes out Sid Sriram concert

Yuva Dasara at Uttanahalli Grounds Day 3

Mysuru: Torrential rain and strong winds brought the third day of Yuva Dasara 2026 at Uttanahalli Grounds to an abrupt halt yesterday evening, leaving thousands of music lovers disappointed as the much-awaited concert by singer Sidharth Sriram (Sid Sriram) was cancelled.

The cultural programmes began at 5.30 pm, with selected dance troupes entertaining the audience.

However, just minutes before Sid Sriram was scheduled to take the stage, a sudden downpour accompanied by gusty winds around 7.45 pm threw the venue into disarray.

Crowd taking shelter under the tarpaulin sheet.

Camera, sound equipment damaged

The strong winds, accompanied by thunder and lightning,  caused the speaker towers on either side of the stage to tilt dangerously towards the LED walls. A Jimmy camera collapsed, while the LED screen on the right side of the stage was damaged. Fortunately, the speaker towers did not topple, averting what could have been a major accident.

People use chairs to cover their heads, protecting themselves from rain.

As the storm intensified, spectators seated on the open ground scrambled for shelter. Many held plastic chairs over their heads to protect themselves from the rain, while organisers rushed to cover stage lights and sound equipment with tarpaulin sheets. The heavy rain and strong winds, however, made it difficult to protect the equipment and continue the show.

After nearly three hours of adverse weather, the organisers officially cancelled the programme at 8.45 pm, dashing the hopes of thousands who had gathered to hear the popular playback singer.

Traffic jam, Police intervention

The announcement was followed by a hurried exit, with the Police blowing whistles to guide people out of the venue. The large crowd leaving at the same time led to congestion at the gates.

With the main road located some distance from the grounds, women and children in particular faced difficulties getting out in the rain. Police personnel stepped in to help, transporting some of them in ambulances and patrol vehicles. Others walked through the rain, using chairs as makeshift shelters, to reach the parking areas.

The situation was further aggravated as vehicles attempted to leave the venue simultaneously, causing traffic jams on surrounding roads. Incomplete roadworks and water-logging on several stretches slowed the movement of vehicles and delayed the dispersal of the crowd.

Many visitors had to negotiate flooded roads and heavy traffic before reaching home, bringing an exhausting end to what had been an eagerly anticipated evening of music.

Breakdance, hip-hop…

Bollywood dance group MJ-5 kept the audience on its feet on the third day of Yuva Dasara with an energetic performance set to Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Tamil and English songs.

The troupe impressed the crowd with its breakdance, hip-hop and Western-style moves, drawing whistles and loud applause. The members performed non-stop for ten minutes, earning appreciation from the audience. MJ-5 has performed in India and abroad and gained international recognition. The group was also a finalist on ‘America’s Got Talent’.