Bengaluru: A jubilant gathering turned into a heartbreaking tragedy as a massive crowd overwhelmed Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during a celebratory event for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), resulting in a deadly stampede that claimed 11 lives and left 33 others injured. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed the incident, expressing deep sorrow and ordering a judicial inquiry into the mishap.
The event, meant to honor RCB’s season, was held at a venue designed to hold a maximum of 35,000 spectators. However, officials estimate that an overwhelming crowd of 2 to 3 lakh people surged toward the stadium, leading to chaos and ultimately, a deadly stampede outside the gates.
Speaking at an emergency press briefing alongside Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister G. Parameshwara, CM Siddaramaiah described the incident as “deeply unfortunate and avoidable,” stressing that the government will not engage in political blame games over the loss of innocent lives.
"I will not make excuses. What happened is tragic. We never anticipated such an enormous turnout. People even broke through the stadium gates, and the crowd spiraled out of control," the Chief Minister said.
He announced a compensation package of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased and assured that the state will cover all medical expenses for those injured. Siddaramaiah has also directed a magistrate-level inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident, with a deadline of 15 days to submit a detailed report.
Despite the deployment of the entire Bengaluru city police force, the sheer magnitude of the crowd made it difficult to manage the situation effectively. "This catastrophe should never have occurred. Our hearts go out to the families who lost their loved ones. We are standing by them during this time of grief," the CM stated.
The inquiry is expected to investigate lapses in crowd control, event management, and the failure to anticipate or restrict the influx of such an unusually large number of attendees.