At least 11 killed in stampede, scores injured; K’taka CM orders probe
The celebrations for the RCB’s first-ever IPL win turned tragic on Wednesday as at least 11 persons died and more than 30 were injured in a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium after thousands of RCB fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the team.
“11 are dead and 33 injured due to stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru…More than 2-3 lakh people came, and no one expected this much crowd,” Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said at a press conference.
He also said that the stadium could only accommodate 35 thousand spectators. The chief minister announced a magisterial inquiry into the incident and a Rs 10 lakh compensation to the kin of the deceased.
The stampede took place when thousands of fans attempted to enter the stadium from various gates. Police had a tough time controlling the crowd, triggering chaos and turning a joyful event into a tragedy.
Police used mild force to control the crowd and bring the situation under control ahead of a special felicitation at the stadium for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team organised by Karnataka State Cricket Association.
Meanwhile, the felicitation of the players went ahead nonetheless as the stadium was packed to the rafters despite the chaos outside the stadium.
People were seen collapsing, visuals showed police shifting the injured persons and those who fell unconscious in ambulances to nearby hospitals. Visuals also showed some of those who were in an unconscious state being administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by those nearby.
The injured were hospitalised at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Shivajinagar and other hospitals. According to hospital sources, deaths could have been caused due to suffocation. “The stampede incident shouldn’t have happened, and the government expresses grief over it,” Siddaramaiah said.
“The crowd was uncontrollable, police were finding it difficult, so we had to stop the procession,” deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar said while speaking about the tragedy because of which a planned victory parade could not take place.
The BCCI said the turn of events was shocking and the organisers should have been better-prepared.
The political slugfest also started soon enough, with the opposition BJP targetting the Congress-led government for not handling the situation properly.
The tickets for the hastily-arranged engagement programme were sold in a jiffy, but the fans crowded all the gates 12, 13 (main gates) and 10 (clubhouse entrance) with not enough security to control them.
The number swelled to unexpected levels around 3.30 pm, and it forced the police and stadium security officials to close all the gates to prevent the ticket-less from squeezing in along with the ones who had valid tickets.
Some reports also suggested that the sudden collapse of a temporary slab placed over a drain near the stadium due to the weight of people standing on it was the reason for the stampede.
Prez, PM condole
President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said the loss of lives in a stampede in Bengaluru is shocking and heartbreaking. In a post on X, President extended her condolences to the bereaved families. “My condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured,” she said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the stampede as “absolutely heartrending”. Modi said on X, “In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery.”
Leader of Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said the stampede was heartbreaking. “My condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Wishing a swift and full recovery to all those injured…” he said.
“In this hour of grief, I stand with the people of Bengaluru. The Karnataka government must provide all possible support and relief to the affected families,” Gandhi said in a post on X.