(Image source from: Apnews.com)
The exuberant festivities in Bengaluru following RCB's IPL victory after a long wait of 18 years took a dark turn as at least 11 individuals are feared dead due to stampedes in two different areas. The commotion erupted when a large crowd assembled near M Chinnaswamy Stadium for an event honoring the team, organized by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). Among the deceased, two lost their lives in another overwhelming crush near Vidhana Soudha, where the RCB team arrived from the airport to meet with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Footage revealed police personnel carrying injured and unconscious individuals to a nearby medical facility. Witnesses reported that many who had come to witness the festivities collapsed amidst the chaos. Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar described the gathering as "uncontrollable," expressing his regret over the overcrowding. "We had stationed over 5,000 personnel. This crowd is young and energetic, and we cannot resort to using batons against them," Mr. Shivakumar stated.
He mentioned having talked with the Police Commissioner and that he planned to visit the hospital later, stressing that he did not want to interfere with the medical staff treating patients. He added, "We cannot determine the exact number of casualties right now. We urge the public to remain calm. We shortened the program; it concluded in just ten minutes... Lakhs of people attended,” he informed reporters.
Scenes from various Bengaluru Metro stations in proximity to the stadium displayed large crowds emerging from trains and using the stairs. At Bowring Hospital nearby, ambulances were seen continuously delivering the injured and returning for more. Individuals were spotted climbing trees and perching on branches for a better view of the celebration. The Karnataka government had called off a victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium due to security concerns. According to police, they had been managing the celebrating crowds since Tuesday evening, spending the night ensuring public safety and preventing any incidents, as reported by news agency IANS.
A significant number of people also gathered at Vidhana Soudha to attend the government’s felicitation of the RCB. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi criticized the Karnataka government for inadequate planning and ineffective crowd control. "It is truly sorrowful to witness such loss due to insufficient planning and mismanagement. The Karnataka state government has evidently failed in its duties. While celebrations are important, the government took this unfortunate decision without proper planning and without consulting emergency services. This situation was preventable. The government must take responsibility and ensure accountability," Mr. Joshi expressed in a post on X. Mr. Shivakumar welcomed the RCB team upon their arrival in Bengaluru on Wednesday, presenting each player with bouquets and extending a special greeting to Virat Kohli while giving him both the RCB team flag and the Kannada flag.
