One dead, 14 injured in Sialkot mehndi ceremony stampede

One person was killed and more than 14 injured in a stampede at a mehndi ceremony and prize-distribution event held for the Sialkot TikToker Muhammad Ansar Jatt, known to his followers as Mr Patlu, Dawn reported, quoting officials. ARY News put the number of injured at at least 14 and did not report any death.

The ceremony was scheduled for Saturday night at Faraz Cricket Ground on Daska Road in Sialkot district, according to Dawn. Motorcycles and a car were to be handed to attendees through a lucky draw.

ARY News reported that a large crowd gathered outside the venue ahead of the draw, and that the situation turned chaotic when the gates opened, setting off the stampede. Rescue officials gave the injury count, the outlet said.

Thousands of people travelled from distant areas to attend, ARY News reported. Its account of the prizes listed 50 motorcycles, a car and cash awards of Rs50,000 each. Jatt had also announced financial help with the dowries of 20 underprivileged orphan girls, according to the outlet.

Dawn reported that hundreds of followers from several cities across Punjab had gathered outside the ground, and datelined its report from Narowal.

Neither report named the person killed or said which hospital the injured were taken to. Neither said how many people the ground holds or what crowd arrangements the organisers or the district administration had made.

The mehndi ceremony was cancelled after the stampede, ARY News reported. Jatt had also announced plans to distribute millions of rupees during his wedding celebrations, the outlet said.

The accounts differ on the toll: Dawn, citing officials, reported one death and more than 14 injured, while ARY News, citing rescue officials, reported at least 14 injured. No named official from the Sialkot district administration was quoted in either report.