At least 35 people have been killed and 42 others injured in a stampede during a New Year’s Eve midnight countdown gathering in 
Shanghai’s waterfront tourist attraction.
The crowd rout occurred at about 11:35 PM (local time) when people rushed to see a live show at a crowded place in the popular riverfront Bund area.
An injured person said as a result, those moving up fell down causing a huge pile of people that led to heavy casualties.
Most of the injured suffered fractures and the condition of five of them was stated to be serious, the report quoted doctors as saying.
Maximum of those present last night were reported to be students.
Police had cancelled a live show at the sprawling Bund area earlier for safety reasons considering that such an event attracted over three lakh people last year.
Many who were not aware of the cancellation rushed to the place.
Earlier state-run news agency quoted a witness as saying that the stampede took place when some coupons which resembled “dollar bill” were being thrown from a building’s third-floor window near the Bund.
People standing along the river bank started scrambling for the coupons, it said.
TV footage showed a number of panicked women struggling to catch a breath, some in semi-conscious state being helped by police and relatives.
Chinese President, Xi Jinping ordered an immediate probe into the incident and called for proper treatment to the injured.
“Such incidents during celebrations should be prevented” Jinping said in a message.
