Watch: Huge crowds surging to IKEA’s first India store in Hyderabad could have led to a stampede
An estimated 40,000 people lined up for a retail experience.
Swedish home furnishing chain IKEA opened its doors to Indian customers on Thursday and to say the response was good would possibly be an understatement. An estimated 40,000 people targeted the 4,00,000-square feet outlet at HiTec City in Hyderabad, leading to a stampede-like situation that was captured on videos.
“With a huge crowd from across the city thronging the store in the evening, the IKEA staff found it a bit challenging to regulate the entry. There were also a few tense moments when some people tried breaking queues,” store manager John Achillea said.
According to reports, the crowds also caused traffic jams on the roads leading to the store, bringing parts of the IT hub to a near halt.