Pune: A massive crowd surge at singer Ritviz’s Holi concert in Kharadi’s Eva Garden led to chaos at the venue, forcing the police to intervene and use force to control the situation. The event, held on Friday (March 14), attracted a large number of youngsters, and as crowd pressure increased, security at the venue collapsed, leading to disorder.
The Holi concert, organized at Mayfield Eva Garden Ground in Kharadi, saw a huge turnout starting from 1:30 PM. Despite security personnel and police deployment, the sheer volume of attendees overwhelmed the entry gates, leading organizers to shut the gates. This triggered panic as attendees forcefully tried to enter, raising fears of a stampede.
Eyewitnesses reported that as the crowd pushed against the barricades, event staff struggled to manage the situation. The police had to use force to disperse the crowd and restore order. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone IV) Himmat Jadhav confirmed that the timely intervention prevented any serious incident.
Meanwhile, another Holi event featuring singer Honey Singh was being held at Mahalaxmi Lawn in Kharadi. However, it was the Eva Garden event that witnessed major crowd mismanagement, prompting police action. Authorities have emphasized the need for stricter crowd control measures at large events to avoid potential hazards.