Tears in heaven

Time of India

a day ago

Chinnaswamy
Chaos
Vidhana Soudha
People rush to take the injured to the hospital
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Shivakumar
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I have ordered a magisterial inquiry and given 15 days' time. People even broke the gates of the stadium. There was a stampede. No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came
CM Siddaramaiah
Shehzad Poonawalla
A view of the block created due to the surge of fans who were all headed towards M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday
CM Siddaramaiah visits the inured in the hospital
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Bengaluru erupted in uncontainable joy on Tuesday night as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched the coveted IPL trophy for the first time in 18 years. Firecrackers lit up the city skyline, drums beat through the night, and ecstatic supporters danced in the streets—marking one of the most euphoric sporting celebrations Bengaluru has ever witnessed.But what began as a moment of triumph soon spiraled into tragedy. More than two lakh fans thronged the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for the felicitation ceremony to honour the newly crowned champions.was unleashed as the crowds charged on, , triggering a sudden stampede, and utter panic. In the horrific melee that ensued, 11 lives were lost and at least 47 others were injured—some critically.This was the first time that Chinnaswamy Stadium witnessed such a devastating stampede—turning scenes of joy into an unimaginable tragedy.CM Siddaramaiah admitted that the event saw a turnout far exceeding expectations. 'The stadium's capacity is 35,000, but over two lakh people turned up,' he said. 'The felicitation was planned in the morning after the match ended late on Tuesday night, and being a working day, we did not expect such massive turnout.'He noted that a similar crowd had gathered in front of theearlier in the day, where no untoward incident occurred. However, miscommunication, lack of entry protocols, and small stadium gates led to chaos at Chinnaswamy. The CM ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and sought a report within 15 days. Siddaramaiah confirmed that among the injured, 33 are currently being treated at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital and Vydehi Superspecialty Hospital. He announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased and assured free treatment for all injured persons, including those admitted to private hospitals.Officials confirmed that the stadium gates were broken by the surging crowd. There was no clarity on how fans would be allowed in. Although Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had reportedly planned to issue QR code-based entry passes, the arrangement was not implemented effectively. Police sources said fans began walking from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium in large numbers. Despite barricades, people jumped over them, leading to a crush. A concrete slab reportedly collapsed under the weight of those standing on it. Police were heavily outnumbered, and crowd control became nearly impossible. Many fans brought RCB flags, which were later used by bystanders in desperate attempts to revive unconscious victims by fanning them.Among the victims was 14-year-old Divyanshi, a Class 9 student who had come to the stadium with her aunt and younger sister. She reportedly died of suffocation. A dental student and a female student from Ambedkar College also lost their lives. Most of the victims were young students and employees, aged between 25 and 30 years. Eyewitnesses recalled scenes of desperation and horror. Personal belongings, slippers, and bags lay strewn across the venue. The suspected cause of death in most cases was suffocation. Eight people sustained minor injuries such as toe fractures and bruises.To manage the surging crowd, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) suspended halts at Vidhana Soudha and Cubbon Park stations from 4.30 pm temporarily. Ticketing services at these stations were also stopped. Massive crowds were seen at Sir M Visvesvaraya and MG Road stations as fans diverted their travel routes.Deputy CM DK, reacting to the incident, said, 'I cannot comment now. The felicitation was moved from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy due to safety concerns, yet despite 5,000 police personnel, a tragedy occurred. Our police had warned us earlier, but we didn't expect this crowd.'Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal slammed the government and cricketing bodies. 'While people were dying outside, there was celebration inside. BCCI and RCB must be held accountable. Families should sue for ₹100 crore.' The BJP lashed out at the Congress government, accusing it of 'criminal negligence' and 'photo-op politics' during a tragedy.'This is nothing short of a massacre,' said BJP spokesperson, demanding the resignation of the CM, Dy CM, and Home Minister.Some fans, in frustration, reportedly hurled stones and slippers at Vidhana Soudha. The aftermath near the stadium saw abandoned footwear and scattered belongings.The KSCA, which organised the felicitation, is facing criticism for poor planning and mismanagement. Police had to resort to a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd as chaos erupted.A victory parade that was initially planned in the city but was cancelled at the last minute. At 11.56 am, the Joint Commissioner of Police MN Anucheth issued a message stating that a felicitation event for the RCB team would take place at Chinnaswamy Stadium from 5 pm to 6 pm, with entry restricted to ticket or pass holders only, and clarified that there would be no victory parade. He also advised the public to avoid the Central Business District (CBD) area between 3 pm and 8 pm and to use Metro or public transport due to limited parking. However, just 12 minutes later, Anucheth said that the matter was still under discussion and updates would follow. Eventually, Shivakumar confirmed that the parade was cancelled.A heart-wrenching scene unfolded at the hospital where the injured were being treated. The air was filled with cries, chaos, and unbearable grief as distraught parents and relatives rushed in desperation to find their loved ones. Many were in disbelief, refusing to accept the reality that their family members were no more. Some were escorted to the morgue, where they faced the unimaginable task of identifying the lifeless bodies of their children. Earlier at Chinnaswamy Stadium, tragedy unfolded in the most brutal way — some children collapsed and died right in front of their parents' eyes, while others vanished in the crowd, leaving their families frantically searching with no answers. Amid the panic, gut-wrenching scenes emerged of bystanders trying to perform CPR on the fallen, desperately hoping to snatch a few lives back from the jaws of death.We list out all the reasons that led to the deaths of fans who just wanted to celebrate their team's win.While M Chinnaswamy Stadium has a seating capacity of about 35,000 to 40,000, over 2 lakh people reportedly gathered, leading to uncontrollable crowd pressure.The decision to allow free entry for the felicitation event attracted an overwhelming number of fans without any ticketing or registration mechanism to regulate attendance.The felicitation event was planned on short notice, with no clear communication on entry protocols or expected crowd turnout. Many were unaware of how to access the venue.There were no proper queue systems, crowd barriers, or designated zones, and the few barricades set up were either jumped over or broken during the rush.Despite 5,000 police personnel being deployed, they were overwhelmed by the sheer size of the crowd. Warnings by police about potential risks were reportedly ignored.There were no ambulances or emergency medical teams stationed at the venue. Victims had to be rushed to hospitals in private vehicles or with assistance from bystanders.Entry through small and insufficient gates, particularly Gate 12 where the stampede occurred, became choke points. Some gates were reportedly broken open by the crowd, leading to chaos.Many fans who had gathered at Vidhana Soudha also moved toward Chinnaswamy Stadium, adding to the crowd surge. There was no traffic or pedestrian flow control between the two venues.The KSCA and government officials allegedly did not coordinate effectively, resulting in a lack of joint crowd management strategy or on-ground execution plan.Vulnerable attendees, including women, children (like 14-year-old Divyanshi), and the elderly, were not given separate entry/exit points or safe zones, putting them at greater risk during the chaos.There was no defined crowd dispersal mechanism post-event, and no emergency protocol for mass evacuation, leaving the crowd trapped in confined spaces during the peak rush.