&w=3840&q=100)
Rajat will lead RCB for a long time, says Kohli during RCB's victory parade
Bengaluru witnessed a sea of red as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) marked their historic maiden IPL title win with a vibrant victory parade through the city. Thousands of jubilant fans packed the roads and stadium, turning out in full force to celebrate a triumph 18 years in the making. Amid the celebrations, RCB icon Virat Kohli passed the symbolic baton of leadership, declaring Rajat Patidar will continue to lead RCB for a long time just like he predicted before the start of the season. Kohli, emotional yet jubilant, hailed the RCB supporters as unparalleled in loyalty and passion, attributing the victory not just to the squad but to the city itself. As the trophy was unveiled before a roaring crowd, the evening turned into a heartfelt tribute to perseverance, belief, and a fanbase that never gave up.
Kohli calls Bengaluru the 'heart' of RCB's success
Addressing the crowd during the grand celebrations, Virat Kohli delivered a powerful message that underscored the emotional weight of the title. He acknowledged that while his journey with RCB had spanned nearly two decades, the triumph belonged as much to the fans as it did to the team. 'This is for every single one of you,' Kohli said, emphasising that Bengaluru's unwavering support had sustained the franchise through years of heartbreak. Recalling captain Rajat Patidar's words, he said it's no longer just Ee Sala Cup Namde but truly Ee Sala Cup Namdu — our cup at last.
Patidar embraces the moment, eyes the future
Rajat Patidar, who led from the front in the 2025 campaign, echoed the sentiment of unity and purpose. He reflected on how the team was clear from day one: the mission was to lift the trophy. 'This win is for the millions who believed in us over the years,' he said. His calm leadership and consistent performances were praised by Kohli, who predicted that Patidar would be at RCB's helm 'for a long time'.
The parade wasn't just a celebration — it was a passing of the torch, a promise of continuity, and a salute to one of cricket's most devoted fanbases.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
"I Want To Stay Here Too": Father Holds On To Grave Of Son Killed In Stampede
Bengaluru: Out to celebrate the victory of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League, 11 people were killed and 47 were injured when a stampede broke out at the gates of the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. The statistics, however, sometimes overshadow the personal tragedies, and a video of a father crying and holding on to his son's grave has brought them sharply into focus. The video shows BT Lakshman - the father of 21-year-old Bhumik Lakshman, who died in the stampede - wailing at his son's grave at their native village in Hassan district. "What happened to my son should not happen to anyone," he says, lying down on the ground with his head pressed against the grave. "The land I had bought for him is where his memorial has been built." Refusing to let go, Mr Lakshman says, "I don't want to go anywhere else now. I want to stay here too," as two other men approach him and help him to his feet. "No father should have to face what I am facing," he laments. A final-year engineering student, Bhumik was among the thousands of people who had gathered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday to celebrate and catch a glimpse of the players who had won the RCB the IPL title after an 18-year wait. He was among the 11 people, including a 14-year-old girl, who had died in the stampede that followed. Mr Lakshman had spoken to reporters after the tragedy and appealed to the government that his son's body be given to him without being "cut up" during a post-mortem. "I had only one son, and now I have lost him. Please give me his body, don't conduct a post-mortem and cut his body into pieces. The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister may visit us (the victims of the tragedy), but they can't bring him back," he had said, fighting tears. BJP's Attack The video of Mr Lakshman at his son's grave has also been shared by the Karnataka unit of the BJP, which has accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of being "murderous". "Murderous CM @siddaramaiah sir, murderous DCM @DKShivakumar sir, if you had made up your mind, you could have taken a photo with your children and grandchildren in a luxurious hotel with a cup. But your insistence on taking a photo on the steps of the Vidhana Soudha has made 11 families wash their hands in tears every day. Can you give this father his son back?" the handle of the Karnataka unit of the BJP posted in Kannada on X. The reference was to the felicitation of the RCB players at the Vidhana Soudha - the state legislature complex - where several key Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, were present. The Congress, however, has repeatedly accused the BJP of politicising the issue and said the Karnataka government is doing all it can to help the families of the victims and ensure that a tragedy like this doesn't occur again. The police have arrested four people in connection with the stampede and five police officers, including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, have been suspended. On Friday, the Karnataka government also sacked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Political Secretary K Govindaraj as well as the state intelligence department chief.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Crowd management is not an optional job
The tragic loss of lives in the recent stampede in Bengaluru — coinciding with the IPL cricket tournament — underscores a disturbing and recurring reality: crowd management and police bandobast (security deployment) are still too often treated as routine, symbolic, and reactive. At times, they are reduced to photo opportunities rather than the collaborative, preventive effort that public safety demands. While each event has unique features, there are certain non-negotiable principles that must govern crowd safety to prevent tragedy. Organisers must be held to higher standards As per licensing rules, no event should be conducted without official permission from the local administration. Organisers are expected to submit a realistic estimate of the expected turnout, along with details of promotional strategies used for mobilisation. This estimate forms the foundation of all safety and security planning. Once submitted, the police department develops its own plan in coordination with other civil agencies, under the leadership of the chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP). Organisers must be fully co-opted into this process and certify the infrastructural readiness of the venue — including holding capacity, structural condition, maintenance, availability of emergency exits, and suitability of location. Free-entry events or overselling tickets often attract unpredictable crowds, increasing the risk of stampedes. Organisers must also provide details on event timing — especially if held after sunset — and submit plans for safety measures during those hours. Adequate signage to guide spectators to exits, restrooms, and medical services is essential. Backup power supply, clean drinking water, sanitation, and clear crowd dispersal protocols are basic requirements. Parking for buses, cars, and two-wheelers must be well-organised with signage and token systems to regulate flow and deter theft. Private security must be hired to supplement police deployment. Surveillance tools such as CCTV systems should be mandatory, and organisers must establish a control room for real-time monitoring with proper logging and preservation of footage. If the event is profit-oriented, the organisers must bear the cost of policing, as per standard protocol. These funds are rightly routed to police welfare. Police bandobast While organisers bear the initial burden of preparation, the ultimate responsibility for law and order lies with the political leadership and civil administration. Planning begins at police headquarters, where senior officers coordinate with sister agencies — municipal bodies, fire departments, medical teams, and disaster response units. This integrated effort must be led by the chief secretary. Manpower needs are assessed based on the event's nature, location, and expected crowd size. Venues should be mapped and divided into manageable sectors, each under the charge of designated officers as per an official, written deployment plan. Every officer must receive clear verbal and written briefings outlining their duties, assigned positions, and key points of contact. Importantly, potential 'X-factor' scenarios — such as sudden surges, VIP movements, weather disruptions, or technical failures — must be anticipated and planned for. Contingency planning is not a luxury; it is an operational necessity. Senior officers must ensure seamless coordination with political leadership, especially for high-profile or sensitive events. However, they must also retain professional autonomy when it comes to enforcing safety norms. Any directive that compromises crowd safety should be firmly resisted. Breakdowns in communication between top-level commanders and ground-level personnel are among the most dangerous and common causes of failure during large events. This gap must be eliminated through continuous updates, situational awareness, and robust feedback loops during the event. Who pays the price when systems fail? These protocols are not theoretical — they are drilled into police officers during training. So why are they often ignored when it matters most? In the case of the IPL tragedy, both political pressure and commercial interest appear to have played a role. Truth will emerge with time, with the hurried announcement of suspension of the police commissioner. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: ordinary citizens pay with their lives, while VIPs remain protected in cushioned zones, issuing statements and announcing ex gratia payments — not from their own pockets, but from the public exchequer. Time for structural accountability The ongoing inquiry must answer key questions- was the required application for conducting the event submitted?Were red flags raised by the police ignored? Who overruled safety objections — and why? We must demand accountability. Law and order is not a discretionary favour to the public — it is a core duty of the state. Public safety is what the police and civil administration are trained, recruited, and paid to ensure. Tragedies at public events are not 'accidents' if they were predictable and preventable. They are institutional failures — of planning, of enforcement, and sometimes, of courage. It is time we asked: Who failed? And who paid the price? And perhaps it is time to name and shame — not out of vindictiveness, but in pursuit of genuine accountability and reform. (The writer, India's first female IPS officer, is former lieutenant governor of Puducherry)
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Major stadium disasters over the years - a timeline of tragic incidents in sport
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden Indian Premier League title triumph turned tragic when 11 people lost their lives in a stampede during victory celebrations outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The deceased had gathered around the stadium, waiting for entry inside to catch a glimpse of the winning RCB team, but the uncontrollable crowd resulted in the fatalities as several scores of people got injured. There have been similar tragic incidents in sport involving fans across countries, either caused by a stampede, clashes with the police, or structural collapses inside a stadium. Happy Valley Racecourse fire (1918) More than a century ago, Hong Kong witnessed a horrific fire at the Happy Valley Racecourse which claimed more than 600 lives. Several accounts of the tragedy online suggest that it was caused when the stands at the club, made largely of bamboo and wood, collapsed and caught fire after coming in contact with food stalls at the venue. Estadio Nacional disaster (1964) Lima was hosting Argentina in an Olympic qualifying football match. Argentina was leading when an equaliser was disallowed by the referee. This sparked spectators throng the field in anger which saw the local police resort to tear gas. According to The Guardian, at least 263 people, including women and children, lost their lives. Hillsborough disaster (1989) One of the most fatal stadium incidents in Britain's history, the Hillsborough disaster took place in April 1989 during an FA Cup semifinal match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. It occurred when thousands of fans, trying to enter the stadium, were asked to wait in a small waiting pen. Due to paucity of space and overcrowding, 97 people lost their lives, many due to suffocation. Indonesia stadium tragedy (2022) At least 174 people died at an Indonesian football stadium when thousands of angry home fans invaded the pitch and police responded with tear gas that triggered a stampede. The tragedy in the city of Malang, which also left 180 injured, was one of the world's deadliest sporting stadium disasters. Arema FC supporters at the Kanjuruhan stadium stormed the pitch after their team lost 3-2 to the visiting team and bitter rival, Persebaya Surabaya. Police, who described the unrest as 'riots', said they tried to force fans to return to the stands and fired tear gas after two officers were killed. Liverpool parade (2025) Several Liverpool supporters were recently severely injured when a van rammed into them during celebrations surrounding the team winning England's Premier League this season for a record-tying 20th top-flight title. As the parade was wrapping up, a minivan turned down a cordoned-off street just off the parade route and ploughed into the sea of fans wrapped in their red Liverpool scarves, jerseys and other memorabilia. A video on social media showed the van strike a man, tossing him in the air, before veering into a larger crowd, where it ploughed a path through the group and pushed bodies along the street before coming to a stop. According to BBC, more than 100 people were left injured.
