Latest news with #MChinnaswamyStadium
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
India: Complaint filed against Kohli by social activist over Bengaluru stampede
A complaint has been lodged against Indian Premier League (IPL) team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batsman Virat Kohli by a social activist in connection with the Bengaluru stampede, news agency ANI reported on Friday. The report said that a complaint has been submitted at the Cubbon Park Police Station against cricketer Virat Kohli by social activist HM Venkatesh. The police have stated that the complaint will be considered under an already registered case and examined during the course of the ongoing investigation of the stampede incident. Former India captain Kohli had on Wednesday said he was left saddened by the tragic news of the stampede. "At a loss for words. Absolutely gutted," Kohli had written on Instagram, followed by a broken heart emoji. Police in India's tech capital had earlier in the day arrested four people, including an official of a top cricket franchise, in connection with the stampede during the IPL trophy celebration that killed 11 people and injured 47. RCB Indian had earlier pledged one million Indian rupees ($11,654) to each family of the 11 fans who died in the crowd surge outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium — the team's home venue — on Wednesday during celebrations following their maiden IPL title.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Sport
- Times of Oman
India: Four arrested for deadly cricket stampede
Police in Bengaluru, India's tech capital, arrested four individuals early Friday for the roles in a deadly fan crush that occurred on Wednesday while the local cricket team Royal Challengers Bengaluru was celebrating its T20 Indian Premier League (IPL) championship victory. The team offered free tickets to a trophy celebration at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, saying the number of tickets would be limited. Officials say the stadium has a capacity of 35,000 people, "but 200,000-300,000 people came." In the end, 11 people were killed and 47 injured as fans without tickets attempted to push their way into the venue in what Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called an "absolutely heartrending" incident. State officials on Friday announced that "legal action has been taken against the representatives of the RCB" as well as the event organizers and the state cricket association. Local media have reported that the four face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, among others. Officials suggested that senior police may also be subject to punishment for their roles as well. Wealthy Indian Premier League cricket cutting corners on fan safety? The IPL is the world's richest cricket league, with media widely reporting that RCB's T20 victory had secured it a $2.3 million (€2 million) match bonus. RCB has called the event "unfortunate" and offered $11,655 each to the families of victims, most of whom were men between the ages of 14-49. Indian Premier League ranks among the world's wealthiest in cost-per-match terms since selling a five-year global broadcast right package for $6.2 billion in 2022. This has led many in India to demand the league be more forthcoming about Wednesday's tragedy. The Indian Express newspaper this week wrote: "The world's richest cricket tournament can't cut corners when it comes to fans' safety. A fitting tribute to those dead, therefore, is not mere signing a cheque but holding those in charge responsible."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
India coach criticises parade where 11 were killed
India coach Gautam Gambhir has criticised the decision to host the victory parade where 11 people died on Wednesday and says his "heart goes out" to those were also injured outside the Stadium as Royal Challengers Bengaluru celebrated their Indian Premier League state chief minister Siddaramaiah told reporters that authorities had not expected the number of people who had turned out."If we are not ready to hold a road show we should not have done that," former India batter and IPL-winning captain Gambhir said."As simple as it can get. I know fans do get excited, everyone gets excited, but nothing compared to what happened yesterday." One police official told the BBC more than 200,000 people packed the streets to see the team parade through the streets to the stadium but police expected half of that official said a stampede occurred when people tried to push through a small Thursday, RCB said they would give 1,000,000 rupees (£9,000) to the families of those killed."I was never a believer that we need to have roadshows, never," Gambhir said."My heart goes out to the people who lost their lives."We need to be responsible. We need to be responsible citizens and responsible in every aspect because every life matters."You cannot at any point in time lose 11 people. We can be more responsible."
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Cricket fans in India were celebrating their team's win. A stampede turned that joy into tragedy
BENGALURU, India — A sea of cricket crazy fans were packed inside the Indian stadium, celebrating a long-awaited victory of their favorite team. Outside, more crowds were pushing at the gates, hoping to catch a glimpse of their cherished cricket stars. The turnout of the crowd was far more than expected. Tens of thousands tried to force their way inside. Then tragedy struck. Panic and a chaotic run toward the stadium gates turned into a deadly crowd crush in India's southern Bengaluru city Wednesday, leaving at least 11 people dead and more than 30 others injured. Most of the victims, including young students, were trampled upon or suffocated after getting caught in crowds that swelled beyond control. The stampede was yet another incident of a crowd crush in a country where poor crowd management often leads to accidents. It also underscored that passion for cricket stars in India — where fans of the game closely follow the players' every move — can easily turn deadly if crowds are not managed properly. The incident took place when crowds outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium began swarming into the premises, where state authorities were celebrating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricket team. The team had on Tuesday finally won the final of the Indian Premier League — the world's most popular T20 cricket tournament — after 18 years. Joyful crowds had poured into the city streets all night. By late afternoon on Wednesday, tens of thousands began moving toward the stadium. City police later said around 50,000 people had gathered within the stadium's 1-kilometre radius, and more crowds were continuing to stream in. Some fans scaled over stadium gates and outer walls. Others tried to break the metal gates. Soon, people began falling on each other. B.V. Shivkumar's 14-year old daughter, Divyanshi Shivakumar, was with her mother and aunt. The three women approached the gate, but fans jostling to enter the stadium caused them to collide with each other, Shivkumar said. Then a crush followed. Divyanshi suffered head injuries. Her mother and aunt rushed her to the hospital, where she later died. 'My wife begged the police and everyone there, but nobody helped,' Shivkumar, who uses only one name, said at his Bengaluru home, surrounded by relatives who were there to offer condolences. Shivkumar said he was particularly incensed by the fact that while people were getting caught in a crush outside, the ceremony inside the stadium continued. 'Who cares about the people's loss?' he asked. Cricket is followed by hundreds of millions of people in India, where it draws record television and digital viewership. For decades, it has also been a crucial part of India's global brand. For many fans, catching a glimpse of their favorite cricketer is no less than a dream come true, even if it means risking their lives. Karnataka state's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who only uses one name, said at least 200,000 cricket fans were out on the city streets on Wednesday, at least four times more than what authorities had expected. His deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, said that 5,000 police officers had been deployed to provide security, but the 'young, vibrant crowd' grew 'uncontrollable.' 'This tragedy has overshadowed the joy of the victory,' he said on social platform X. The incident has since turned into a political tug-of-war, with opposition parties raising questions about hasty arrangements. India's cricket management authorities have said they did not know who planned the event and that players inside the stadium were not aware of the crush until they began receiving phone calls. Meanwhile, India's top cricketers and franchise teams have shared their condolences. The tournament's biggest star player, Virat Kohli, wrote on Instagram: 'At a loss for words. Absolutely gutted.' Families of the victims are grappling with a sense of disbelief and anger as to how a scene of celebration spiraled into a tragedy. Divyanshi's father said authorities should have prepared better so that lives lost could have been saved. 'It's the parents who will suffer now,' he said. —— Saaliq reported from New Delhi.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Cricket fans in India were celebrating their team's win. A stampede turned that joy into tragedy
BENGALURU, India (AP) — A sea of cricket crazy fans were packed inside the Indian stadium, celebrating a long-awaited victory of their favorite team. Outside, more crowds were pushing at the gates, hoping to catch a glimpse of their cherished cricket stars. The turnout of the crowd was far more than expected. Tens of thousands tried to force their way inside. Then tragedy struck. Panic and a chaotic run toward the stadium gates turned into a deadly crowd crush in India's southern Bengaluru city Wednesday, leaving at least 11 people dead and more than 30 others injured. Most of the victims, including young students, were trampled upon or suffocated after getting caught in crowds that swelled beyond control. The stampede was yet another incident of a crowd crush in a country where poor crowd management often leads to accidents. It also underscored that passion for cricket stars in India — where fans of the game closely follow the players' every move — can easily turn deadly if crowds are not managed properly. The incident took place when crowds outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium began swarming into the premises, where state authorities were celebrating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricket team. The team had on Tuesday finally won the final of the Indian Premier League — the world's most popular T20 cricket tournament — after 18 years. Joyful crowds had poured into the city streets all night. By late afternoon on Wednesday, tens of thousands began moving toward the stadium. City police later said around 50,000 people had gathered within the stadium's 1-kilometre radius, and more crowds were continuing to stream in. Some fans scaled over stadium gates and outer walls. Others tried to break the metal gates. Soon, people began falling on each other. B.V. Shivkumar's 14-year old daughter, Divyanshi Shivakumar, was with her mother and aunt. The three women approached the gate, but fans jostling to enter the stadium caused them to collide with each other, Shivkumar said. Then a crush followed. Divyanshi suffered head injuries. Her mother and aunt rushed her to the hospital, where she later died. 'My wife begged the police and everyone there, but nobody helped,' Shivkumar, who uses only one name, said at his Bengaluru home, surrounded by relatives who were there to offer condolences. Shivkumar said he was particularly incensed by the fact that while people were getting caught in a crush outside, the ceremony inside the stadium continued. 'Who cares about the people's loss?' he asked. Cricket is followed by hundreds of millions of people in India, where it draws record television and digital viewership. For decades, it has also been a crucial part of India's global brand. For many fans, catching a glimpse of their favorite cricketer is no less than a dream come true, even if it means risking their lives. Karnataka state's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who only uses one name, said at least 200,000 cricket fans were out on the city streets on Wednesday, at least four times more than what authorities had expected. His deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, said that 5,000 police officers had been deployed to provide security, but the 'young, vibrant crowd' grew 'uncontrollable.' 'This tragedy has overshadowed the joy of the victory,' he said on social platform X. The incident has since turned into a political tug-of-war, with opposition parties raising questions about hasty arrangements. India's cricket management authorities have said they did not know who planned the event and that players inside the stadium were not aware of the crush until they began receiving phone calls. Meanwhile, India's top cricketers and franchise teams have shared their condolences. The tournament's biggest star player, Virat Kohli, wrote on Instagram: 'At a loss for words. Absolutely gutted.' Families of the victims are grappling with a sense of disbelief and anger as to how a scene of celebration spiraled into a tragedy. Divyanshi's father said authorities should have prepared better so that lives lost could have been saved. 'It's the parents who will suffer now,' he said. —— Saaliq reported from New Delhi.
