iPhone 17 Launch in India Marred by Chaos: Overnight Queues, Scuffles Outside Apple Stores
The much-anticipated release of Apple’s iPhone 17 series in India led to scenes of excitement as well as disorder during its launch on Friday. As Apple Stores opened their doors at 8 a.m., large crowds that had gathered hours earlier witnessed scuffles, line-cutting, and frustration — especially at Mumbai’s BKC outlet.
Hundreds of customers waited overnight outside flagship Apple stores in cities including Mumbai, New Delhi (Saket mall), Bengaluru, and Pune. Some buyers arrived as early as 1 a.m., traveling from far-off places like Punjab, while others reportedly skipped work to secure a spot in the queue. Many shoppers spent the pre-dawn hours waiting in line, setting the stage for high demand when sales began.
In Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, tensions escalated among the crowd trying to be first in line. A video showed people pushing and shoving, and at least two physical altercations broke out. Security guards intervened, removing some individuals from the crowd. A shopper named Mohan Yadav complained that people cutting the line were not stopped, and that security officials were not managing crowds properly.
Delhi’s Saket store saw queues that stretched across two floors of the mall. Buyers used makeshift seating arrangements and claimed to have queued overnight. Similar crowding was reported at Bengaluru and Pune stores, though the mood in those cities remained more controlled.
Despite the chaos, the launch went ahead on schedule. The new lineup includes the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and Pro Max models. Prices start from ₹82,900 for the base model, rising into six-figure territory for the Air, Pro, and Pro Max variants.
The events highlight both the immense interest Apple continues to generate in India and the challenges retailers face in managing eager crowds. As demand surged and patience wore thin, many buyers expressed disappointment at what they described as lax crowd control. For now, the day has underscored how Apple’s annual product launches remain major events — as much a test of logistics and patience as of market power.
