MLA Uma Thomas on Tuesday issued a legal notice to the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) seeking ₹2 crore in compensation over the accident that left her critically injured during a mega dance event at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi on December 29, 2024, warning that failure to comply would lead to further legal proceedings.

According to the notice, GCDA had granted permission on October 16, 2024, to conduct the event ‘Mridanga Naadam’ at the stadium for a fee of ₹9 lakh. The event aimed to bring together more than 12,000 Bharatanatyam dancers to create a Guinness World Record. However, the notice claims that GCDA failed to assess the credibility of the organisers' Wayanad-based Mridanga Vision and Oscar Event Management, or the nature of the event, before allowing it to be conducted at the public venue.

The organisers allegedly collected registration fees ranging from ₹3,500 to ₹4,500 from participants and charged entry fees for parents and guests, while providing no facilities or services. A total of 10,544 dancers reportedly participated in the event, which was heavily promoted across the country through digital and print platforms.

Uma Thomas was personally invited by the organisers to inaugurate the programme. As per the notice, she was escorted through the players’ entry gate to a temporary platform erected in the stadium gallery for VIP guests. The platform, measuring approximately 15.35 metres in length and 2.5 metres in depth, was constructed using plywood and GI pipes at a height of around 10.5 metres above ground level.

The notice alleges that the platform had no protective railings and only a metal ‘queue manager’ was placed near the edge to indicate the boundary. While walking on the platform, the MLA reportedly slipped and fell head-first onto the concrete floor below. The metal barricade also fell on her during the accident.

It is further alleged that there were no emergency medical services, stretchers, or trained personnel available at the venue, despite the presence of more than 20,000 people. It reportedly took over 10 minutes to remove her from the stadium, during which she was carried by people while bleeding and unconscious.

Uma Thomas was rushed to a private hospital in Kochi, where she remained unconscious and on ventilator support. She was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, multiple facial fractures, bilateral rib fractures, lung contusions, cervical spine fracture, and compression fractures of the dorsal spine. She reportedly regained consciousness only after nine days.

The notice states that she remained immobile for over a month and required prolonged hospitalisation until February 13, 2025, followed by months of physiotherapy and Ayurvedic treatment. She was able to resume her duties as an MLA only in September 2025, missing an Assembly session during her recovery period.

Medical expenses incurred at the hospital amounted to over ₹16.3 lakh, the notice states, adding that the physical trauma has left permanent scars on her face and eye. It also notes that the incident caused severe emotional distress to her family and adversely affected her ability to serve her constituency.

The notice holds GCDA responsible for failing to supervise the stadium premises, allowing an unsafe structure to be erected, and not deploying officials or safety mechanisms during the event. It further alleges that no effective action was taken against those responsible, apart from a brief suspension of a single official that was later revoked.