PUNE:
It was a sleepless Wednesday night for many citizens in the Pimpri-Chinchwad
township and some Pune suburbs, following a rumour that people were dying in
their sleep. The 'reasons ' for the rumoured deaths were many - planetary
effect, fast spreading illness and
earthquake.
The
rumours started spreading around 2 am on Thursday, as people started receiving
calls on their phones informing them about the sudden deaths and warning them
not to sleep.
Panic
and anxiety spread among the people, mostly staying in chawls and hutments. The
rumours spread fast as people started calling others on their mobiles.
Sunita
Kamble, a resident of Sangvi, said she and her two children stayed awake outside
the house after her husband received a phone call around 4 am, saying that
people were dying in their sleep.
Another
resident Tarabai Janrao too was awake, along with her children and family
members, since early morning. Nanda Adhav of Kothrud also said she had heard
about the panic that had spread in the locality.
The
Pimpri police confirmed that a rumour had spread among the citizens. The rumour
also caused anxiety among parents and in some institutions. "We received three-
four calls in the morning from some students, a college and a bank employee
asking whether the situation is normal and whether people can travel," the duty
officer at Pimpri police station said.
Chandrakant
Shendkar of Balajinagar in Katraj told TOI that many residents in the locality
did not sleep in the wee hours.
Chetan
Chavale, who stays at the hospital quarters near Aundh, said he had received two
calls from his relatives staying in Barshi and Tuljapur. "I was told that people
were dying in their sleep due to some planetary effect. However, I did not
believe it and had a good sleep," he said.
Sukhdev
Bachute of Sangvi said that although he did not believe in the rumour, children
were the most sufferers as they were made to stay awake by their parents.
This
is the second such rumour that has spread among people since Saturday, when
Rakshabandhan was celebrated. As there was a lunar eclipse on Saturday, a rumour
had spread among a section of females that if the rakhi was tied then the
brother would die. Despite the rumours, the festival was celebrated with much
fervour and gaiety.