'No water to drink inside the stadium'

Gurjot Puri travelled all the way from Sonepat with his 62-year-old father, 10-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son, to watch India take on Pakistan in the World Cup semi-final at Mohali

Gurjot Puri travelled all the way from Sonepat with his 62-year-old father, 10-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son, to watch India take on Pakistan in the World Cup semi-final at Mohali.

Taking the first bus, he managed to reach Chandigarh interstate bus terminus at around 12 noon and in an hour's time he was standing in the queue outside PCA stadium.



"I don't like cricket much but my father and children are very fond of it. It was only for them that I went to Mohali. As I was standing in the queue, there was a heavy rush and people were falling on each other.

After much of effort, I managed to reach the gate where I was asked to throw away the bottle of water that I was carrying," said Puri.

He was assured by one of the security officials that there was a proper arrangement for refreshments inside and he would not face any problem. Believing him, Puri, and his family entered the stadium and took their seats, considering themselves lucky enough not to miss a single delivery.

But while cheering the men in blue, his children's throats soon dried up. When Puri went to bring water, he couldn't find any. The one he found was not suitable for drinking.

"Only half-an-hour had passed and there were still eight hours of game left. My children started feeling uneasy and so did my father, who is an Asthama patient. Even the toilets were all messed up. We couldn't bear all this and decided to leave the stadium.

This was the first time I had come to watch any match in a stadium. I hoped to witness some exciting moments but it turned into nightmare.

It was quite disappointing, but my children were happy that they saw Sachin batting and they cheered him," said Puri, who had gone to stadium wearing a shirt painted in the colour of the Indian flag.

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