NAROWAL: A stampede at a mehndi (henna) event and prize-distribution ceremony held by a TikToker in Sialkot left one person dead and more than 13 others injured last night, police and rescue officials said on Saturday.
The mehndi ceremony and prize-distribution event for Muhammad Ansar Jatt, a popular TikToker from Sialkot district known as “Mr Pattlo”, was scheduled for Saturday night at Faraz Cricket Ground on Daska Road, according to a statement by Rescue 1122.
In a statement, the Sialkot police said that as event organisers opened the stadium gates to allow attendees in, a stampede ensued and many fell to the ground. Citing initial information, it said 14 people were injured.
Among those, 30-year-old Muhammad Aqeel passed away while being transported to the hospital due to his critical condition, the Rescue 1122 statement said.
Sialkot police said they and Rescue 1122 personnel conducted a joint rescue operation and transported the injured to Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital. Most of the individuals were discharged after receiving first aid, while others remained under medical care, the statement added.
According to Rescue 1122, the injured persons comprised men aged between 22 and 51 years, and hailed from various districts, including Narowal, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Khanewal, Okara, Sialkot, Gujrat and Bahawalpur.
However, Sialkot residents Muhammad Asif and Aamir Ali stated that more than 40 people were injured in the stampede, explaining that before the rescue teams arrived, attendees had taken several injured to nearby private hospitals and clinics for first aid on their own.
Sialkot District Emergency Officer Engineer Naveed Iqbal said the rescue service had not been informed in advance about the large gathering planned at the cricket ground. He added that four ambulances and one motorcycle ambulance participated in the rescue operation.
Following the incident, Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Dost Muhammad had also reached the site, accompanied by a large police contingent and the Elite Force.
Acting on the DPO’s instructions, the police took charge of security arrangements, brought the crowd under control, and ensured that rescue operations could proceed without interruption, the police statement said.
Speaking to Dawn, DPO Muhammad criticised the event organisers for opening the stadium gates ahead of schedule. The retired captain noted that granting permission for such an event fell under the purview of the district administration.
The DPO emphasised that the protection of the lives and property of citizens remains the police’s top priority. All aspects of the incident will be examined and appropriate legal action will be taken, he asserted.
Dawn has reached out to Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Awais Mushtaq for comment.
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