While a pandemic is raging with life and death consequences, a new Indo-Canadian grocery store in Calgary had to stupidity to announce a free cooker giveaway for their grand opening  leading to chaos as hundreds of shoppers rushed the doors and police were forced to shut down the opening of the Asian Food Centre.

CALGARY – While a pandemic is raging with life and death consequences, a new Indo-Canadian grocery store in Calgary had to stupidity to announce a free cooker giveaway for their grand opening  leading to chaos as hundreds of shoppers rushed the doors and police were forced to shut down the opening of the Asian Food Centre.

Shoppers rushed to the doors at the new store located in the Saddle Ridge area of Calgary, trying to take advantage of a special offer — a free pressure cooker for the first 100 people to enter.

Karanjot Bal was in line waiting to enter the store when things started to get out of control.

"They all crowded the door and tried to pile themselves in, like pushing and shoving," Bal told CBC News. "No one was social distancing either, not even in the line to begin with."

Signs posted outside requested shoppers practice physical distancing, but Jasneet Bal said it just wasn't possible given the crowd's size.

"As soon as people started crowding in, we were like, 'Oh no, this is definitely not safe,'" Jasneet said. 

"People were pushing up against you, there was a lot of elderly people here that were getting pushed over and nobody was helping them up and it got to the point where it's like, OK, cops are definitely needed. We need to shut this place down."

Calgary police did eventually arrive at the store and sent shoppers home, citing public safety.

Police said the store owner was compliant and the location would remain closed for the rest of the day.

The Asian Food Centre is located in the Savanna Bazaar, an open-air market in northeast Calgary. The Asian Food Centre chain of stores offers groceries along with other kitchen and household products.