PONTIAC, MI (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Ten people were injured during pre-show setup at the Silverdome in Pontiac, MI, causing Slumdog Millionaire composer A.R. Rahman's show to be cancelled.
While none were seriously injured during the partial stage collapse, up to ten people were taken to Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital.
Pontiac Fire Chief Jeffrey Hawkins said the injuries appeared to be limited to muscle strains and back injuries. The two workers who were injured more severely than the others were held overnight and in stable condition but were held for observation.
Emergency responders with the Pontiac Fire Department were called to the Silverdome around 4:30 p.m., when a “structural complication” caused part of the stage rigging to come down, Silverdome spokesman Tom Constand said according to Michigan's Morning Sun.
“Because of the safety issue with regards to the rigging being down, it can’t be put up in time for the show tonight,” Constand had said. “Unfortunately, that means the show tonight has to be canceled.”
The Silverdome was not producing the show, which was to be part of the nationwide Jai Ho tour featuring A.R. Rahman. According to the Morning Sun, Constand said the production included “an extensive set, an extensive stage with lots of rigging.”
“This is a separate producer,” Constand said. “They have their own rigging and staging. The whole thing is packaged by them. As is typical with many arenas around the country, the building is leased out to other producers for them to produce their events, and that was the situation here.”
On his Facebook page, A.R. Rahman wrote about the incident according to Michigan's Morning Sun.
"Just back from the hospital,” he wrote in one post. “It’s a miracle that my team escaped with minor injuries. The lighting rig came apart. Thanks to the almighty that everyone’s safe.”
In another post, Rahman indicated that a show scheduled for Sunday in Toronto would also be canceled.
“I regret any inconvenience this causes my fans and am deeply grateful no one from my team or the local Detroit stage crew was seriously injured,” Rahman wrote according to the Morning Sun.–by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
