8 dead, scores injured in stampede at jam-packed music concert by American rapper
Houston (PTI): At least eight people have died and scores of others injured in what authorities described as a "mass casualty" incident on the opening night of a popular music festival here in Texas attended by some 50,000 fans of American rapper Travis Scott.
The sold-out concert by Scott at the Astroworld Festival in Houston had to be cancelled immediately after people started falling after the massive crowd began "to compress toward the front of the stage" around 9:00-9:15 PM (local time) on Friday, CNN reported.
Multiple fans were trampled as hundreds rushed the event's perimeter. Once inside, some people began climbing onto portable toilets as security personnel worked to try and contain the crowd, ABC 13 news website reported.
"We had scores of individuals that were injured," Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena said during a news conference early on Saturday morning.
"The crowd began to compress toward the front of the stage, and people began to panic," Pena said.
Describing what unfolded as a "mass casualty" incident, the fire chief said that 17 patients were rushed to local hospitals.
More than 300 people were treated at the field hospital set up near the festival, Pena said, adding that the concert drew about 50,000 attendees.
So far, eight people have died and hundreds of others injured during the opening night of the popular weekend music festival, authorities said.
Astroworld organisers did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment early Saturday morning.
Organised by rapper Scott, the third annual festival featuring multiple acts was scheduled to run from Friday through Saturday, according to the event's website.
The view from SkyEye overhead Friday night showed the heavy police and fire department activity in the area of the event as organisers ended it early.
The organisers, rapper Scott and LiveNation, stopped the show when it was apparent that multiple people were hurt, according to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, ABC 13 reported.
The crowd disregarded metal detectors and security guards who were checking bags. Members of the Houston Police Department's Mounted Patrol Unit were also on scene and worked to contain the chaotic scene.
The event's tickets sold out within an hour of going on sale back in May.
Scott, the popular rapper and organiser, launched the Astroworld Festival in 2018. Like most other large events, it was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the report added.
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Karnataka: Elderly man dies after his car catches fire
Chikkaballapur (Karnataka) (PTI): A 70-year-old man died after his car caught fire, leaving his body charred, police said on Monday.
The deceased was identified as Uday Kumar, a resident of Raghuvanahalli on Kanakapura Road in Bengaluru, they said.
The incident occurred near Achepalli Cross in Bagepalli taluk of Chikkaballapur district on Sunday when he was returning after visiting his mother in his native place, police said.
Local police were alerted by passersby who noticed the car on fire. Fire tenders rushed to the spot and doused the blaze. However, the flames had spread rapidly through the vehicle, resulting in his death. Later, his charred body was recovered from the car, police said.
Citing preliminary investigation, a senior police officer said it appeared to be a case of suicide as investigators did not find any evidence indicating an accident or a mechanical fault in the car that could have triggered the fire.
"However, teams have collected samples and other evidence, and further investigation is underway to ascertain whether there was any technical fault that led to the fire," the officer said.
