11 dead in stampede at RCB's IPL victory celebrations in Bengaluru

Time of India

3 days ago

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team's IPL victory celebrations event in Bengaluru on Wednesday turned into a major tragedy with at least 11 persons confirmed dead and about 47 persons injured in a stampede outside of Chinnaswamy Stadium near Vidhana Soudha.
As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah led the first round of felicitation of the RCB stars on the steps of Vidhana Soudha, trouble was brewing close by which the administration failed to anticipate. Crowds had swelled outside of the stadium with little or no control on the movement of people. It looked like a sea of humanity with hundreds of thousands of people over a kilometre or two.
The joy and loud cheers of ecstatic cricket fans that began Tuesday night after the team lifted the cup continued well into Wednesday and reached its peak soon after the RCB players landed in Bengaluru. The day began with a series of confusion over the type of reception the team members must get.
The official event on the Vidhana Soudha steps went off peacefully with the police and administration giving maximum attention at the site in view of the presence of the CM, ministers and other dignitaries. The subsequent reception, organized by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), was at the stadium. Eyewitnesses said it was free for all as crowds surged in massive numbers on roads leading to the stadium gates.
With an overworked policemen split between Vidhana Soudha and the stadium, they could barely control the alarming surge in numbers leading to stampedes at many places. 'Several fans were already being crushed under the feet of other people around the same time the official felicitation was going on,' one person said.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the mishap in Bengaluru was 'absolutely heartrending. 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.'
Probe ordered, Rs 10 lakh for families of deceased
The Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the 11 people who lost their lives and free medical treatment for the injured. 'a moment of joy has been eclipsed by sorrow,' he said while condoling the death of people. Most of the deceased are youth, he said at a media conference, while adding that around 2-3 lakh people had gathered at the stadium and another one lakh at Vidhana Souhda.
The CM also ordered a magisterial probe the report of which would be available in two weeks, he said.
'Precautionary measures were taken by not allowing a victory parade, but the crowd surge near the stadium led to this tragedy,' he said. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said they wrapped up the official reception event at Vidhana Soudha in 10 minutes to help crowds disperse faster and to prevent congestion.
The fact that the IPL victory came after 18 long years of wait added to the excitement of boisterous cricket fans who choked out the roads leading to the stadium gates to have a glimpse of their favourite stars at public events. People could barely move around though the police made repeated announcements to leave for safety. As people jostled and elbowed out against each other, many just got squeezed and gave up. There were scenes of people trying to revive those struggling to breathe, and several shifted to nearby hospitals.
Citizens attacked the government for a lack of planning and for permitting the mega event so close to the day of victory as fans had gone crazy. Some felt the stadium event could have taken place after a day or two after a sense of calm settled.