A devastating stampede occurred outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, on Wednesday, resulting in several deaths and numerous injuries. The incident happened as thousands of fans gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic first Indian Premier League (IPL) title win.
The crowd, largely comprised of enthusiastic supporters, became uncontrollable, leading to the tragic event. DK Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, acknowledged the chaos, stating, “the crowd was very uncontrollable”. Local media reports indicate that at least 11 people lost their lives, while others place the death toll at seven.
The incident has sparked concern about crowd management at public events in India. Devajit Saikia, BCCI secretary, expressed regret over the incident, saying, “This is a negative side of popularity. People are crazy for their cricketers. The organizers should have planned it better”. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) described the incident as “unfortunate”.
Stampedes are a recurring issue in India, particularly during large public gatherings. In January, a similar incident at the Maha Kumbh festival resulted in at least 30 fatalities. The recent tragedy outside the cricket stadium serves as a stark reminder of the need for effective crowd management strategies in the country.
Reported Death Toll:
- NDTV: At least 11 deaths reported
- The Times of India: At least 7 deaths reported
- The Indian Express: At least 2 deaths and multiple injuries reported
A humongous number of people had gathered outside the stadium to catch a glimpse of Rajat Patidhar and Co. with the coveted IPL trophy; however, the mismanagement of the event led to a stampede which has not only ended up resulting in deaths but has also injured many. The death toll and the injuries count is only rising.
The incident has raised concerns about crowd management in India, with many pointing to inadequate planning and safety measures as contributing factors. The visuals of the incident were chilling, with a police officer seen carrying a limp body to an ambulance and another victim lying unconscious on the road as bystanders scrambled to help.