 New Delhi: Chaos reigned supreme at a food outlet at a mall in Laxmi Nagar, where Delhi Daredevils cricketers had come for a promotional event as a virtual stampede like situation emerged when the fans jumped fencing to get a glimpse of the cricket stars.
Hundreds of fans thronged the mall, forcibly tried to enter the enclosure and jumped to the restricted area.
Nothing seemed to be in order as first the players -- Irfan Pathan, Morne Morkel, Gulam Bodi, Naman Ojha, Unmukt Chand and Punit Bist -- turned up late, at least by one hour, and then the waiting media persons had to bear the high headedness of the Daredevils team officials.
The organisers blamed the PR company for poorly managing the event while the PR guys put the onus on the organisers, saying they were not expecting such a huge turn-out during daytime.
"PR guys should be blamed for all the chaos created. They did not handle the event properly. We tried our best to make the event hassle free but then things went just out of our hands. We are extremely sorry for all the mismanagement. Huge rush of cricket buffs did us in," said G B Singh, CEO, Fast Trax Pvt Ltd.
"V3S is the only mall in Laxmi Nagar and the company was promoting the event day in day out. When you put big posters around your outlet informing the public that Delhi players are visiting the outlet, you need to manage the event properly keeping the huge rush of fans in mind," said a Daredevils official.
Delhi policemen then manhandled media personnel when they approached the players for interaction.
With no sight of organisers and PR guys, the policemen took control of the situation and, in company of private security guards arranged by the fast food chain, pushed the print journalists and blocked electronic media`s camerapersons from covering the event.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, May 5, 2012, 18:13
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