Frenzied celebrations after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the Indian Premier League (IPL) final after a wait of 18 long years took a tragic turn as 11 people were killed in a stampede that ensued.
It all took place after a crowd gathered near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for a felicitation of the team held by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
A huge crowd had also gathered outside the Vidhana Soudha, where the RCB squad proceeded from the airport to meet the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Visuals showed police shifting the injured and unconscious people to a nearby hospital. Many who came to watch the celebrations fainted amid the stampede, eyewitnesses said.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the crowd was ‘uncontrollable’. "I apologise for the overcrowding. We arranged more than 5,000 personnel. This is a young, vibrant crowd; we can't use lathi on them," Shivakumar said.
“I have spoken to the Police Commissioner… We appeal to the people to remain calm," he added.
The scenes at some Bengaluru Metro stations near the stadium also showed huge crowds coming out of trains and taking the stairs. At the nearby Bowring Hospital, ambulances carrying the injured people continued to arrive, drop them, and head back to the stadium again.
Organisers should have planned better: BCCI
Reacting to the stampede, BCCI secretary said, “This is a negative side of popularity. People are crazy for their cricketers. The organisers should have planned it better. My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. I wish early recovery of the injured. When one organises victory celebrations of this magnitude, proper precautions, safety and security measures need to be taken. There have been some lapses somewhere.”
PM Modi expresses grief
Prime Minister Narendra expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as ‘absolutely heartrending’.
"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: PM Narendra Modi," PMO stated on X.
The BJP and the allies in the opposition have slammed the Congress-led Karnataka Government over the incident and deaths caused, calling it a ‘state-sponsored criminal negligence and murder’.
BJP's National Spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla, demanded the resignations of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and the Home Minister over the incident.
He further criticised the government's insensitivity for continuing celebrations despite the deaths, highlighting their lack of accountability.
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