Latest news with #JusticeJohnMichaelD'CunhaCommission
India Today
12-08-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Karnataka bars Women's World Cup matches at Bengaluru stadium over safety fears
Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium will not host any matches of the Women's World Cup 2025 after the Karnataka government refused to grant permission, citing serious safety concerns flagged in a judicial commission report on the June 4 in the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) confirmed that fixtures originally planned in the city, including the opening ceremony, will now be shifted to other venues. The decision follows the cabinet's approval of Justice John Michael D'Cunha Commission's findings, which deemed the stadium 'fundamentally unsafe' for large-scale expressed disappointment, pointing out the stadium's record of successfully hosting over 750 matches and nearly 15 IPL seasons without incident. 'Even our request to host matches without spectators was turned down,' a KSCA official said, noting that the June 4 event was privately organised, not a cricket match. The commission was set up to probe the IPL victory celebration stampede outside the stadium that killed 11 people and injured over concluded that the stadium's 'design and structure' are unsuitable for big crowds, citing inadequate entry and exit points, poor connectivity to public transport, lack of queuing areas, insufficient emergency evacuation plans, and minimal parking space. The report warned that hosting large events here posed 'unacceptable risks' to public have also alleged lapses in crowd management during the June 4 celebrations, holding RCB, KSCA, event organiser DNA Entertainment, and senior police officers partly responsible. Investigators found that only 79 police personnel were deployed inside the venue, none outside, and no ambulances were is not the first setback for the stadium, earlier this year, it was denied permission to host the KSCA Maharaj T20 Trophy. With Bengaluru off the list, the BCCI is expected to announce revised venues and fixtures before the tournament kicks off on September 30, 2025.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
Mint
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Bengaluru Chinnaswamy Stadium declared ‘unsafe' after RCB stampede; Women's WC 2025, IPL 2026 matches in doubt
Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium has been deemed "unsuitable and unsafe for mass gathering" by the Justice John Michael D'Cunha Commission appointed by the Karnataka Government. The statement comes as some big-ticket matches are scheduled to be held at the venue later in the year, including the Women's World Cup matches. The one-man commission was set up by the Karnataka government earlier in the year after a stampede killed 11 fans and injured many others during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL-winning celebrations. "The design and structure of the stadium was unsuitable and unsafe for mass gathering," the commission stated in its report before the Karnataka cabinet, as quoted by news agency PTI. Notably, Chinnaswamy Stadium is scheduled to host the opening match and the final of the ICC Women's World Cup later in the year, but the latest observation and its acceptance by the Karnataka government could have wider implications on those matches. The commission cited issues with Chinnaswamy Stadium's 'design and structure' that make it 'unsuitable and unsafe' for mass gatherings. It further noted that continuing to hold such events could pose 'unacceptable risks to public safety'. "Given these systemic limitations, the commission strongly recommends that stadium authorities consider relocating events that are expected to attract large crowds to venues that are better suited for such large gatherings," the commission noted. In order to avoid such tragic incidents in the future, the commission suggested remedial measures such as 'adequate entry-exit gates for mass entry and exit (ingress and egress), and emergency evacuation plans compliant with international safety norms.' Meanwhile, the panel has also recommended legal action against KSCA chief Raghuram Bhat, ex-secretary A Shankar, and ex-treasurer ES Jairam—the two office-bearers had resigned after the stampede while taking 'moral responsibility' for the incident. It also recommends action against RCB vice-president Rajesh Menon, DNA Entertainment Networks MD T Venkat Vardhan, and VP Sunil Mathur.
India Today
25-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
RCB's Chinnaswamy Stadium deemed unsafe to host large-scale events: Report
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has been deemed fundamentally unsafe to host large-scale events, according to a damning judicial commission report accessed by ESPNcricinfo. The findings, recently approved by the Karnataka cabinet, cast serious doubts over the stadium's ability to host key fixtures, including matches in the Women's ODI World Cup and the 2026 IPL Justice John Michael D'Cunha Commission, constituted to investigate the June 4 stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL victory celebrations, concluded that the stadium's 'design and structure' are inherently 'unsuitable and unsafe' for events drawing large crowds. The stampede led to the death of 11 people and left over 50 its report, the commission issued a strong warning that continuing to host large events at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium could seriously endanger public safety. It said the stadium is not suitable for managing big crowds and that holding such events there comes with 'unacceptable risks' related to crowd control, emergency response, and traffic movement in the city. The report urged that high-attendance events should instead be held at venues that are better designed for crowd safety. It recommended that any future stadium used for such events should meet international safety to ESPNcricinfo, the commission identified several major shortcomings in the stadium's infrastructure. Built in 1974, the Chinnaswamy lacks proper queuing and waiting areas separated from busy public roads. It does not have enough entry and exit gates to safely manage the large number of fans who attend matches. The report also said the stadium is poorly connected to public transport, making access difficult during large events. Importantly, there are no detailed emergency evacuation plans in place that match global safety guidelines. There is also limited space for parking or pick-up and drop-off zones, which adds to the chaos during major Karnataka government has approved the findings, paving the way for potential legal and disciplinary action against several key stakeholders. Those named in the report include RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), event management firm DNA Entertainment, and senior officers from the Bengaluru report's implications are significant. The Chinnaswamy Stadium is currently scheduled to host marquee matches in the upcoming Women's World Cup, including the tournament opener and a semi-final, in September-November 2025. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium will also host the Women's Premier League and the Indian Premier League next commission found that all involved parties proceeded with the June 4 event despite being fully aware of the challenges in managing crowd safety, especially with a government function taking place simultaneously at Vidhana Soudha, less than a kilometre also uncovered glaring lapses in policing. Only 79 personnel were deployed inside the stadium, with none stationed outside despite the expected turnout. No ambulances were present at the venue, and senior officials were slow to respond—the Joint Commissioner of Police reportedly arrived 30 minutes after the stampede cabinet's approval now enables legal and departmental action against RCB, KSCA, and DNA Entertainment, as well as senior police officials already under investigation. Five officers, including the then Bengaluru Police Commissioner and two other IPS officers, had previously been suspended, and multiple FIRs have been filed citing negligence and culpable homicide.- EndsMust Watch
