Kamal Haasan calls Bengaluru stampede ‘heart-wrenching' amid Kannada-Tamil row; R Madhavan, Vivek Oberoi express grief for victims
Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) celebration turned tragic after a stampede at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium led to the death of 11 people and left several others injured. The incident occurred ahead of RCB's IPL victory celebration. In the wake of the tragedy, several celebrities, including RCB player Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma, took to social media to express condolences to the victims and their families.
Veteran actor Kamal Haasan also paid his respects to the deceased and shared a message on X (formerly Twitter). 'Heart wrenching tragedy in Bangalore. Deeply distressed and my heart reaches out to the families of the victims in this moment of grief. May the injured recover soon.' Kamal's statement comes at a time when he is embroiled in controversy over his recent 'Kannada-Tamil' remark. During the audio launch of his upcoming film Thug Life, Kamal had said, 'Kannada was born out of Tamil,' a comment that angered both politicians and the public, leading to a backlash and the stalling of Thug Life's release in Karnataka.
Heart wrenching tragedy in Bangalore. Deeply distressed and my heart reaches out to the families of the victims in this moment of grief. May the injured recover soon.
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) June 4, 2025
Actor R Madhavan also extended his condolences. He wrote on Instagram, 'This is so heartbreaking. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Please be responsible and safe and do not respond to rumours without checking with the authorities.'
Vivek Oberoi grieved the loss of lives and shared a heartfelt message: 'It's truly saddening to lose loved ones, especially during what should have been a moment of collective joy in cricket. To the families and friends now facing this unimaginable void, our hearts ache with yours. We send our deepest condolences and heartfelt support, hoping you find some solace amidst this profound grief. May strength and peace be with you.'
RCB clinched the IPL title after defeating Punjab Kings in the finals held in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Following their victory, the team landed at Bengaluru's HAL Airport, where a felicitation programme was scheduled at Vidhana Soudha, with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in attendance. Later, the players participated in a victory parade through the city. Thousands of fans gathered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium to catch a glimpse of the champions. Entry into the stadium was restricted to those with valid passes. However, according to reports, rumours about the availability of free passes sparked chaos near Gate Number 7, resulting in a massive crowd surge and a stampede-like situation.
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