A major stampede was averted at a Chennai mall on Saturday after police cancelled a promotional event featuring Hiphop Tamizha Adhi. Thousands of fans had gathered at the venue since the morning, leading to severe overcrowding that forced authorities to call off the programme. The artist later apologised to fans in a video after being advised by police not to proceed to the venue.
As the situation became unmanageable, crowds began rushing out of the mall, causing a massive traffic gridlock in the surrounding areas. Vehicles were stuck for hours on Gurunanak Road, Velachery Main Road, and 100-Feet Road as thousands of cars and two-wheelers attempted to exit the premises simultaneously. Commuters reported being trapped in the vicinity for several hours, with some taking over three hours just to exit the mall's parking facility.
Police stated that organisers had initially requested permission for an estimated 1,000 people, but social media messages attracted a significantly larger crowd. Officials have since reiterated that mandatory permissions for such events require strict fire safety, traffic control, and entertainment registrations. Future events of this nature are being discouraged from being held inside shopping malls to prevent similar public safety risks.
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