The streets of the capital city wore a deserted look since noon, with music afficionados queuing up in the stands, hours before the show was slated to start. Chaos went on increasing at the stadium gates as the countdown to the show narrowed. A local state holiday today added to the crowd enthusiasm.

While there was no official announcement of the total tickets sold, sources in Airtel, the sponsors, and Centre Point Entertainment Network, the local promoters said the sale (all denominations Rs 600, Rs 850 and Rs 1200) crossed the 40,000 mark. The stadium, with a total capacity of roughly 40,000 (both standing and sitting) was jam-packed even as spectators, including those with tickets, were seen grouping outside after failing to enter.

Enthralled by the enthusiasm of the fans, Scorpions group lead R Rudolph Schenker said before the show, “It’s amazing to travel to this emerging rock town in the Himalayas. We will rock you like a hurricane.” The entry to the venue had four rings of security check. Two gates, comprising six channels, led people inside the venu. Intensive frisking was carried out despite the massive rush.

Over 35 per cent of the crowd was said to have come from Assam even as over 3500 tickets were sold in Kolkata alone for the event. Dubbed by the organizers as a ‘monster rock show’, the Scorpions concert witnessed a mind-boggling 200 psychedelic moving lights, powered by 1.5 lakh watts, thundering 50 tonnes of backline music instruments and giant screens of 80,000 luminosity clarity.