Chaotic crush at Indian cricket victories results in 11 fatalities
Amped fans flooded the streets of Bengaluru to cheer on their heroes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, after an exhilarating Indian Premier League (IPL) final victory over Punjab Kings. But the triumph transformed into chaos, earning Prime Minister Narendra's sympathy as "absolutely heartrending."
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reported 11 fatalities and 47 injuries resulting from the stampede. In Bengaluru hospitals, a steady stream of injured arrived seeking treatment. One victim, a woman without naming herself, spoke with AFP, saying, "I was standing near the entrance, there was a monstrous crowd and they trampled on me. I couldn't breathe; I fainted."
Siddaramaiah stated that, despite the entire city's police force deployment, no one had predicted the massive crowd that gathered. With the M Chinnaswamy Stadium holding only 35,000 people, it's estimated that 200,000-300,000 fans flooded the city. Consequently, a planned victory parade by the team was cancelled due to concerns over an uncontrollable crowd.
Still, a video posted on RCB's social media showed ecstatic fans as players waved from a bus, with RCB expressing that such enthusiasm embodied "pure love." However, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal shared that organizers in the stadium were unaware of the stampede until later. Although cricket authorities shortened the event's program, the tragic event left fans and officials heartbroken, and an inquiry into the circumstances is pending.
RCB's triumph marked their first IPL title after 18 years of trying, but the celebrations were clouded by the profoundly distressing stampede incident. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety measures, even during joyous moments.
[1] The Economic Times: "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/2022/05/31/11-dead-47-injured-in-rcb-victory-parade-stampede-in-bengaluru-pm-condoles-deaths-calls-it-heart-wrenching-news.html"[2] NDTV: "https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rcb-fans-stampede-in-bengaluru-leaves-at-least-11-dead-and-40-injured-3147575"[3] Hindustan Times: "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/m-chinnaswamy-stadium-where-hero-kohli-brings-thrills-and-tragedy/story-pZJf3fjeKGwNRtIW9Cq8jP.html"[4] The Hindu: "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/tragedy-marrs-rcb-victory-in-bengaluru/article65294534.ece"[5] The Indian Express: "https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rcb-bengaluru-stampede-deaths-pm-modi-7402863/"
The tragic stampede following the RCB victory parade in Bengaluru was reported by multiple Indian news outlets, including The Economic Times, NDTV, The Hindustan Times, and The Hindu. This general-news event, which resulted in 11 fatalities and 47 injuries, happened amidst a massive crowd wanting to celebrate India's first IPL title for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 18 years. The incident underscores the importance of prioritizing safety measures even in joyous moments, as this tragedy in crime-and-justice news struck hard in the world of sports, particularly football-loving India.
