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Mishaps arising from overcrowding were averted at the Phoenix Marketcity mall in Chennai's Velachery on Saturday, August 8, after thousands of people gathered for a promotional event of the movie Meesaya Murukku 2. The police cancelled the programme amid concerns of public safety and potential chaos.
The non-ticketed event, organised at the mall for actor and musician Hiphop Tamizha Aadhi’s upcoming film, was expected to draw around 1,000 people, according to the police. However, a much larger crowd turned up after social media posts reportedly described the programme as a free musical event featuring Aadhi's performance.
By Saturday evening, more than 2,000 people were reportedly gathered, with a large number of them thronging around the stage area. Police warned that the situation could lead to untoward incidents and advised Aadhi not to proceed with the event.
The situation also triggered severe traffic congestion across Velachery and surrounding areas, with motorists stuck for several hours. Gurunanak Road, Velachery Main Road and 100 Feet Road were severely affected, and the congestion worsened due to the rain, drawing several vehicles entering and leaving the mall.
The police said the production team had obtained permission from Guindy police after estimating an attendance of around 1,000 people, apart from the mall’s regular weekend visitors. However, the misleading social media posts about a free public concert resulted in a much larger turnout.
Traffic police personnel were deployed at important junctions along Velachery Main Road to regulate vehicle movement. Patrol vehicles were also used on Sunday to clear bottlenecks along the road.
Aadhi later shared a video message expressing disappointment at not being able to meet his fans. He said he had arrived at the venue excited to meet them, but could not participate in the event due to their safety and the police instructions.
The mall management also said the event was cancelled as a precautionary measure.
“Given the crowd density and the resulting safety and crowd-management considerations, and following advice from the police and relevant authorities, the decision was taken to cancel the performance as a precautionary measure,” Phoenix Mall said in a statement.
TNM reached out to Additional Commissioner of Police Law and Order (South) Narendra Nair IPS for comment. The story will be updated once a response is received.
