Chaos reigned at a reality show featuring South Indian superstar Mammootty in Dubai as star-struck fans tried to gatecrash into the venue, leaving several people injured in a stampede, a media report said in Dubai on Monday.
The stampede broke out on Friday night after more than 15,000 fans of the 56-year-old star tried to crowd into the Dubai Aiport Expo venue, meant for half as many, to watch the final episode of 'Mammootty The Best Actor Award 2009'.
Many turned out without a ticket, rendering the 70-member security staff ineffective and police had to be called to manage the crowd, National newspaper reported on Monday.
The organiser, Asianet, admitted "things were completely out of control", saying they were not prepared for the size of the crowd. The organisers have agreed to give refund to ticket holders who could prove that they were turned away.
"We have successfully done several events before, but this time things were completely out of control," said Bindhu Menon, the company's Middle East general manager.
"Apart from the people who had already purchased tickets, there were thousands of others who were there to get tickets," she said, confirming that people were injured in the stampede.
{{/usCountry}}"Apart from the people who had already purchased tickets, there were thousands of others who were there to get tickets," she said, confirming that people were injured in the stampede.
{{/usCountry}}Menon said even Mammootty faced difficulty in entering the venue as public mobbed his car.
"The stars also had to come through the same entry points. Even Mammootty's car was stopped and people were all over the car. It had become a major issue," Menon said, adding, "Mammootty was even thinking of returning due to all this but he stayed and finally gave a great show."