‘Ready to give Rs 50 lakh. Will they bring back my son?': Day after Bengaluru stampede, victims' kin slam government

Indian Express

a day ago

A day after a stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru claimed the lives of 11 people as lakhs of people gathered to catch a glimpse of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team that won the IPL, several family members of the deceased hit out at the government and civic authorities on Thursday for the lapse in arrangements.
A schoolgirl, a teenager who was in Bengaluru to collect his transfer certificate, an engineering student, and a civil engineer were among the 11 people who died in the tragedy.
1. Divyanshi B S: A fan who wanted to see Kohli
Fourteen-year-old Divyanshi B S was passionate about cricket and a big fan of Virat Kohli. 'She wanted to see him up close. Her wish cost her her life,' Divyanshi's mother, Ashwini U L, said on Thursday.
A Class 9 student who stayed in Yelahanka in Bengaluru, Divyanshi was a dancer who wanted to become a veterinarian doctor, her mother said. 'She was a very mature person. In fact, she used to inspire me on how to handle situations in life,' Ashwini said.
'Not just Virat Kohli, she knew the achievements of Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and even other players,' Ashwini, who had accompanied her daughter to watch the RCB felicitation at Chinnaswamy stadium, added.
2. Manoj Kumar: A father's hopes dashed
Devaraj N T, a pani puri vendor in Bengaluru, was watching TV when he saw the news about a stampede at Chinnaswamy stadium. He immediately dialled his son, Manoj Kumar, 20, a BBA student at Presidency College. 'Someone else picked up the phone. I sensed something amiss,' Devaraj said.
Kumar's family shifted to Bengaluru 22 years ago. A native of Tumakuru, Kumar stayed with his parents in Yelahanka.
'The police called me and asked me to come to Bowring Hospital. I did not have the courage to see my son's dead body,' Devaraj said. 'He went to the event with two of his friends. He had told me that he would only go to Vidhana Soudha. I did not know that he had gone near Chinnaswamy stadium,' he added.
Reacting to the government announcing compensation of Rs 10 lakh, Devaraj said, 'I am ready to give Rs 50 lakh…Rs 1 crore. Will they get my son back?'
3. Prajwal G: Went to stadium despite mother's plea
Prajwal G, 22, was an engineering graduate and an employee at a private firm. An RCB fan who celebrated the team's win with friends on Tuesday night, Prajwal ignored his mother's entreaties not to go to the Chinnasawmy stadium on Wednesday. 'He went against my will,' his mother, Pavithra, said on Thursday.
Prajwal used to stay at Yelahanka New Town and was the only son of Pavithra and Ganesh.
'By 5.30 pm, I received the call about the incident. I went to the police station and they took me to Vydehi Hospital. There were unidentified dead bodies, and the doctors told me to see them. Hoping that it would not be my son, I entered, and then my life shattered. His body was kept as he slept at home. The government has killed my son,' Pavithra cried.
4. Poorna Chandra: A Mysuru engineer with plans to get married
Poorna Chandra, 26, who hailed from K R Pet taluk in Mandya district, worked as a civil engineer in Mysuru and was a big RCB fan. On Wednesday, he was in Bengaluru to meet a woman that his family was keen to see him get married to. 'I had asked him to visit the girl's house. After visiting the house, he went to the stadium. We were not aware of it. By 6 pm, we received the call that he was dead,' Poorna's father, R B Chandru, told the media.
His body was taken to his village on Thursday for the final rites.
5. Chinmayi Shetty: Trip with classmates ends in tragedy
Chinmayi Shetty, 19, was not an avid cricket fan, but decided to join her classmates as they made their way to the Chinnaswamy stadium to join the RCB celebrations. An engineering student who also studied Yakshagana, Chinmayi was a resident of Doddakallasandra and hailed from Mangaluru.
'She called me over the phone at about 1.30 pm and said that she was heading to the stadium. She did not have a craze for cricket, but went there with her classmates. At 5.30 pm, I received the call that she was dead,' Chinmayi's father Karunakara Shetty said. 'I have lost my daughter. What will I do with the compensation? I want my daughter back,' Karunakara cried.
6. Shivalingu Chandappa: Was in Bengaluru to get his TC
Seventeen-year-old Shivalingu, who hailed from Yadgir, was in Bengaluru to receive his transfer certificate. After collecting his documents, he decided to visit the Chinnaswamy stadium.
'I was watching TV and was blaming the public, wondering why they needed to go to the stadium and Vidhana Soudha in such big numbers. I was unaware that my son was also there,' Shivalingu's father, Honnappa, who works as a labourer in Honigeri village in Yadgir district, said. 'By evening, we received the call that Shivalingu was no more,' he added.
7. Bhoomik Lakshman: A fateful outing with friends
Bhoomik Lakshman, 19, was a resident of M S Ramaiah Layout. According to his father, Lakshman D H, Bhoomik visited the Chinnaswamy stadium with his friends. 'He did not inform me, but at around 3 pm, he made a video call to his mother and showed her the celebrations. Later, I heard that there was a stampede. I tried reaching him over the phone, but he did not pick up the call,' Lakshman said.
'My son could have been saved if there were proper medical facilities. My son was killed due to the apathy of the civic agencies and the government,' he added.