11 people have been confirmed dead and around 50 injured in a tragic stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The incident occurred during the frenzied celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) after an 18-year wait.
The chaos erupted as a large crowd had gathered outside the stadium for a felicitation event organized by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to honor the victorious RCB team. Eyewitnesses reported that the stampede was triggered by the overcrowding and lack of crowd control measures in place.
Disturbing visuals showed police rushing injured and unconscious individuals to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. Many spectators who had come to witness the celebrations reportedly fainted amid the chaos of the stampede.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed regret over the tragic incident, acknowledging that the crowd had become “uncontrollable.” He apologized for the overcrowding and stated that despite deploying over 5,000 personnel, the situation spiraled out of control due to the enthusiasm of the young and vibrant crowd.
Authorities are now investigating the circumstances that led to the stampede and have promised to take necessary steps to prevent such tragedies in the future. The city of Bengaluru, usually known for its vibrant and passionate sports fans, is now grappling with the aftermath of this devastating incident.
