SANGUEM
An unprecedented rush was witnessed as thousands queued up to lay their hands on the much-sought after Quepem Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal lottery tickets which opened for sale on Sunday.
The sale was, however, stopped after the impatient crowd climbed on to the make-shift platform which led to its collapse. Organisers later said that the sale will continue at the Quepem Government College auditorium on Monday.
Thousands of people had queued up since early Sunday in the hope of getting the prized lottery ticket before them getting sold out.
As the crowd began to get impatient, people began climbing the wooden barricades in order to jump the queue.
Police deployed at the venue had a tough time in controlling the crowd.
As the people were in no mood to listen to the men in uniform, the organisers soon decided to postpone the sale of lotteries for Monday.
According to sources at the venue, attractive prizes including 20 high-end four-wheelers and 20 two-wheelers are up for grabs. Apart from this, the organizers have also announced cash for the winners of the high-end cars to bear other taxes and registration charges.
Over the years, lotteries issued by Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Quepem have been in high demand for the prompt release of prizes.
Earlier, the entire sale of lotteries would take around fifteen days to be sold out. However since last two seasons, the lotteries disappeared from the counters in less than a week's time.
Sources said the popularity and the high demand of these lotteries is such that, people travel from faraway places in the hope of laying their hands on a ticket.
