Did Free Entry Cause the Stampede at RCB Event? Bengaluru Demands Answers!
Was Bengaluru's Stampede Preventable? Or Did Poor Planning Cost 11 Lives?
Aryan K 
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 05: After Royal Challengers Bangalore's big IPL win, nearly 2.5 lakh fans gathered outside Chinnaswamy Stadium for celebrations. The Karnataka government, during a court hearing, said that the crowd became unmanageable due to the free entry announcement. People even came from outside the state. Sadly, the gathering led to a stampede that killed 11 people and injured over 30. The celebration that was meant to bring joy ended in deep sorrow for many families.
Heavy Police Deployment Couldn’t Stop the Chaos
Over 1,400 police officers, including senior officials, were placed to manage the event. But even with such large deployment, the crowd proved too massive. Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty told the Karnataka High Court that the police had opened 21 gates to avoid crowding. Yet, people kept coming in huge numbers, leading to panic and pushing. This shows how important proper planning is, especially for such big events with lakhs of people.
Magisterial Inquiry Ordered in Full Swing
The government has now launched a strict magisterial probe into the tragedy. The advocate general informed the court that the report will be ready in 15 days. The government also mentioned that they would not spare any officer or organiser if found guilty. Notices have already been issued. Every angle is being looked at, and full video recordings of the inquiry will be submitted to the court. Karnataka officials are treating this matter very seriously.
SOP to Be Framed for Future Crowd Events
The court asked whether the government had vehicles ready for emergencies and where injured people would be taken. In reply, the advocate general said that the government is now preparing a full Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). This SOP will include clear steps for managing crowds, ensuring gate control, and keeping medical support ready nearby. This step may help prevent such painful incidents in the future if followed properly.
City in Shock as Leaders Express Grief
Bengaluru is still recovering from this heartbreaking event. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah blamed overcrowding for the disaster. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar became emotional while speaking about the deaths. Many people present inside the stadium didn’t even realise a stampede was happening outside. The joy of cricket was replaced by sirens, cries, and confusion. The city that cheered for RCB now prays for those who lost their lives during this unfortunate incident.
