New Delhi: At the world’s highest international cricket stadium in Dharamshala, there was panic and chaos on Thursday night before the local administration and security officials ensured the spectators’ safe exit. The match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was abandoned after news of Pakistani attack over various Indian cities poured in. The floodlights were turned off, and the players exited the field.
“We were enjoying the match when it was abruptly stopped and we saw Armed Forces, as well as Indian Premier League Chairman come in, asking all of us to evacuate,” said Asha Singh, a student of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh in Dharamshala.
Spectators were under the impression that the match had been called off due to failure of a floodlight, but as they started walking out, news of missile strikes began pouring in, creating panic.
Now, the IPL has been suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following strikes in a host of cities – Amritsar, Pathankot, Jaisalmer, and Jammu.
“The administration made the decision to say that it was a technical problem. If we had announced otherwise, it would’ve led to chaos,” said a Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association official who did not wish to be named.
“As people accessed news on Twitter and got alerts from other news channels about attacks in Pathankot, some people started panicking and running for cover,” Singh said. “But the police calmed them down politely, and averted what could have been a stampede-like situation,” she added.
Singh, along with other students, walked from the stadium for 20-25 minutes to reach her university in the dead of the night– lights had been shut off at the stadium for security reasons.
“To keep spirits up, people were chanting ‘Pakistan Murdabad’ and ‘Hindustan Zindabad’ slogans,” Singh said.
Another student, Shubham Patel, who was at the match, left the stadium before evacuation orders as his teachers called him back. “Our teachers called us and told us to return to our hostel immediately,” he said.
The administration removed barricades and ensured a smooth exit, said Rahul, a McLeod Ganj resident who was among the first to leave.
“Everyone sort of knew what was happening. I was mentally prepared for the match being cancelled,” he added. “They said it was a floodlight failure, but we knew the real reason. We could see players leaving.”
Calmly dispersed
Dharamshala residents also came out on the streets to guide the crowds and help the administration manage traffic.
“Hoteliers were all out on the streets, assisting panicked crowds find their way to their hotels or out of Dharamshala. There was one-sided traffic towards McLeod Ganj, where people were mostly staying,” recalled Aaryansh Singh, who runs four Airbnbs in the city.
Most people had to walk to their destination as cabs were scarce due to a large crowd, spectators told ThePrint. There were no buses around, as they generally stop operating in the city after 8 PM.
Initial anxiety was also captured in a video posted by a cheerleader on Instagram, who can be heard saying how ‘scary’ the situation was amid sirens. “The whole stadium was evacuated in the middle of the game, and it’s all very very scary,” she said.
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, the operators of the stadium, were informed about the evacuation by the local administration just minutes before the flood lights were turned off. The Deputy Commissioner was also in the stands, an HPCA official said.
“Yesterday was not what we wanted. But national security is far more important. Safety and livelihood are worth more than a match,” said the official.
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Hotels run empty
Sanjay Gandhi was wrangling for a six at the HPCA stadium when he received a phone call from a friend in the United States –– Pathankot had been struck by Pakistani missiles. Soon after, Gandhi saw players leaving the field for their dressing rooms, and followed suit.
“Thankfully I was in the VIP area, so there were no crowds. Downstairs, I could see that there was a little panic,” he said.
A lot has changed for Gandhi since last night – the owner of ‘Gandhi’s Paradise’ hotel in Dharamkot, and head of the Kangra Hotel Association. For starters, his business is in jeopardy. In the last few hours alone, he’s lost Rs 3 lakh due to cancellation of bookings.
In a different reality, tourists flock to Dharamshala — the centre of Kangra’s district’s tourist potential, and a big revenue generator. Now, the opposite is happening. Those who were due to come are reneging on their plans, and the rest have made a hasty exit.
“It’s a big loss. We’re completely dependent on tourism. And we’re now seeing a hundred per cent cancellation for today, tomorrow, and next week,” he said. “We were all geared up –– I had hired additional staff, prepared for activities.”
In effect, an otherwise thriving industry is now in flux.
Rahul Dhiman, the owner of three hotels in McLeod Ganj and President of the Dharamshala Hotel Association, shared a similar story. He, too, has seen 100 per cent cancellation. The 50 or so tourists who had arrived solely to watch the match have left, and the remaining have cancelled. But there’s a sliver of hope.
“Our June bookings are still intact. But let’s see what happens. Of course, if the situation worsens we will have cancellations then as well,” he said, hoping that things “settle down soon.”
Meanwhile, Aaryansh Singh put out a post on X, saying his Airbnb is open for anyone who might be stuck in Dharamshala. While his post garnered 15,000 reshares, only a couple of people made enquiries about availability of rooms, and actually nobody showed up.
“Due to the game (IPL) season, the whole week’s inventory was sold out but we have had to cancel reservations. We have also waived off any cancellation fee on tourists,” he said.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)