Berlin- At least 19 revellers, including women, were trampled to death when a jam-packed tunnel leading to the open-air venue of a popular music festival was hit by a panicked stampede in the German city of Duisberg.
Over 340 people were also injured in the tragedy at the 'Love Parade' techno music festival last evening, police said. The incident occurred when the music enthusiasts were on their way to the festival grounds near the Duisberg railway station, where nearly 1.5 million people from across Europe had gathered to attend the 'Love Parade' techno music festival last evening, police said. According to eyewitnesses, people were unable to move forward or backward in the entry tunnel leading to the open-air festival, sparking panic and stampede.
Police said 19 people, including women, were crushed to death and over 340 were injured in the incident, which took place after the festival organisers closed the entrance to the overcrowded venue around five pm local time and thousands of fans assembled in the underground passage attempted to enter the festival. As the people could not move forward or backwards after more fans poured into the tunnel, panic broke out and some people fell down and they were trampled to death in the stampede. Police said emergency medical teams faced difficulties in reaching those who needed medical attention. At least 10 people were resuscitated at the scene. Several of the victims died on the spot while others succumbed to their injuries in hospitals.
Police fear that the toll may go up in view of serious injuries sustained by several survivors. In spite of the tragic incident, the authorities decided to continue the music festival till late at night to prevent further panic among the crowd. German President Christian Wulf and Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed their deep sorrow over the tragedy and called for a thorough investigation into it. They also expressed their condolences to the families and friends of the victims. Pope Benedict XVI also expressed his profound sadness over the deaths of young party goers. 'Love Parade' began as a peace demonstration in Berlin in 1989 and over the years evolved as a huge open-air festival, which brings together music fans from all over Europe. After a two-year break, 'Love Parade' resumed last year. This year's event was held under the motto 'the Art of Love' and it was part of the cultural events marking the Rhur region as the 2010 cultural capital of the European Union. PTI
