11 dead and several injured as RCB’s victory parade turns into a tragedy

New Delhi (India) June 5: On Thursday, a number of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) supporters waited outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, excited to watch the team celebrate their IPL victory. However, a stampede took place that killed eleven people and injured several others turning the joy into a tragedy.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association had organised a special felicitation ceremony at the stadium for all RCB players. 11 FIRs have been filed for unnatural death after the stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and injured a number of others. 

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru responded to the news of stampede by saying, “RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extends our heartfelt condolences to the affected families. Immediately upon being made aware of the situation, we promptly amended our program, and followed, the guidance and advice of the local administration.”

Virat Kohli responded to the stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium, where thousands of excited fans had come to see his team's historic IPL win. He posted, “At a loss for words. Absolutely gutted,” in an Instagram post.

PM Modi also prayed for the injured’s quick recovery and sent his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.

He said, “The mishap in Bengaluru is absolutely heartrending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery.”

There have been reports of 47 injuries, and there are concerns that the number may rise. Four people died at Vydehi Multispecialty Hospital and three who were transferred to Bowring Hospital were announced dead upon arrival. The stampede is said to have started when hundreds of people attempted to enter the stadium through a gate near Cubbon Park. 

Traffic jams near the stadium made it difficult for police to transport the injured to hospitals. A number of them were taken into ambulances, police vans and private cars.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also expressed his profound sorrow over the deaths caused by the Bengaluru stampede.

He said, “My heart goes out to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I pray for the early recovery of the injured. Let us always remember to prioritise safety and celebrate responsibly.”

The opposition BJP has demanded a judicial investigation into the stampede that killed 11 people in Bengaluru, blaming the Congress government's alleged lack of preparations in holding the RCB victory celebrations as the primary cause.

Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra compared the state government's celebrations to the triumph parade in Mumbai following India's 2024 T20 World Cup victory and criticized it for not being prepared well. 

He said, “If you would have seen the world cup match when India won, there was a big celebration in Mumbai also with a lot of preparations.”

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called for a magistrate's investigation for the incident and offered ₹10 lakh in compensation to the families of the deceased. He also added, "If anyone is found to be at fault, action will be taken." 

Aadrika Tayal