New Year toll: Cantt murder, stampede at 32nd Milestone

In the second incident, according to eyewitnesses, the 32nd Milestone hotel authorities had barricaded the entrance to check the inflow of people.

Around 150-200 persons, many of whom had valid tickets, were not allowed to enter because it got too crowded inside. This prompted many bystanders to scale the gates.

Lokesh, who was at 32nd milestone last night, said that at 12 midnight when the crowd went into a frenzy some of the security guards started wielding their lathis fearing that the public might gate crash. The sudden onslaught caused an alarm and people started running. Many of them suffered bruises from lathi blows and some fell down in the process.

A local correspondent of a national newspaper, Abhay Jain, suffered bruises and abrasions on his face, limbs, back and head. A security guard of the deputy commissioner (Gurgaon) managed to pull him out of the crowd. Lokesh, who also suffered injuries, said that at least 20-25 people were hurt in the incident. He said that the authorities had probably sold tickets unmindful of the capacity of the hotel and discotheque.

An assistant manager of the hotel, Ajay Kumar, however refuted the allegation. “First, there was no such incident last night. Most of the people at the entrance did not have tickets and wanted to get inside one way or the another. There is no question of selling tickets in excess of the capacity since we were selling these on the spot through our counter,” he said. The police have registered a case of rioting and simple injury on a complaint filed by Abhay Jain.

All over the Capital, it was the weather that dictated the party scene on New Year’s Eve. The blinding fog was at the back of everyone’s mind as they chalked out their schedules and it continued to play in their minds even when the parties began.

This year, before the clock struck twelve and the fog cover settled over the city, Delhiites tried to make it indoors instead. The result was heavy traffic jams on Mathura Road and the arterial roads coming in and going out of Connaught Place, among other areas. Revellers watching the fireworks at India Gate were few and far in between. In fact, when the crackers went off, people on the roads were all in a hurry to get back home.

Inside the confines of their homes, however, people partied all night. The fog forced people to crawl on the roads and as a result most parties started late. Needless to say, all the chitchat also centred around the fog, with people exchanging notes on the poor visibility and giving each other survival tips.

The only people who braved the chill all night long were the police personnel on duty. And giving them company were the tipsy revellers who were made to sit in police vans till they were slightly sober.