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Swatch stores in major cities around the globe have had to hastily cancel the launch of 'Royal Pop', the much-hyped collaboration between Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet and Swatch, after unprecedented demand triggered safety concerns and stampede-like conditions.
Videos online show massive crowds gathered outside stores in Dubai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore and many other cities awaiting the launch.
The Dubai launch, scheduled for Saturday May 16 at Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, was called off after massive crowds gathered outside Swatch outlets, triggering safety concerns.
The Indian cities of Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi also witnessed huge queues, with fans surging ahead and people almost falling over themselves in a bid to grab the limited-edition pocket watches.
Swatch India cancelled events in several cities, postponing the launch to a later date. "Given the level of demand, extended queuing would not have changed the chances of securing a piece," Swatch India stated on its Instagram page.
Social media users heavily criticised organisers for failing to prepare adequate crowd-control measures despite anticipating strong demand.
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