Viral Reel About ₹5,000 Sarees for ₹599 Drew Hundreds of Women; Chaos at Saree Centre, Three Women Unconscious
Viral Reel About ₹5,000 Sarees for ₹599 Drew Hundreds of Women; Chaos at Saree Centre, Three Women Unconscious
Viral reel sparks massive rush at Tenz Saree Centre on Trimurti Road; police step in to avert major disaster
A promotional offer promising sarees worth ₹5,000 for just ₹599 led to chaotic scenes in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Sunday, after a viral social media reel drew hundreds of women to a newly opened saree store. The sudden rush resulted in a stampede-like situation, leaving at least three women unconscious and several others struggling to breathe.
The incident occurred at the Tenz Saree Centre on Trimurti Road, where the store had announced its inauguration offer ahead of the Makar Sankranti festival. According to local reports, queues began forming outside the shop as early as 10 am. However, the situation spiralled out of control soon after the shop opened around 11 am, when large numbers of women rushed inside simultaneously.
Eyewitnesses said the narrow entrance and limited space inside the shop worsened the crowding. As the pressure increased, several women were pushed, while others reportedly panicked due to suffocation. At least three women fell unconscious amid the chaos and had to be pulled out by bystanders.
Residents alerted the police after noticing women experiencing breathing difficulties inside the shop. Police rushed to the spot and took immediate control of the situation. Police used a public address system to appeal for calm and warned the crowd of possible use of force if the situation did not improve.
To disperse the gathering, police repeatedly announced that the discounted offer was not limited to a single day and would continue for 365 days, urging people not to panic or rush. Following these announcements and police intervention, the crowd gradually dispersed by around 2 pm, preventing what officials said could have turned into a major disaster.
Police confirmed that the three women who fainted regained consciousness and did not suffer serious injuries. No formal complaints have been filed so far, though officials said the matter is being reviewed, particularly with regard to crowd management and safety arrangements at commercial launches.
The incident has once again highlighted the power of viral social media promotions and the risks associated with inadequate planning for large crowds. Over the past few months, several reels promoting sarees priced between ₹199 and ₹599 have been circulating widely, often triggering sudden surges in footfall at stores.
Authorities have urged shop owners to ensure proper crowd control measures, especially during festival seasons, and appealed to citizens to avoid rushing for heavily discounted offers that may compromise personal safety.
