Tragedy Strikes: Mayhem in Bengaluru's Cricket Triumph
Deadly chaos near Indian cricket stadium claims at least 11 lives - Eleven fatalities reported in close proximity to cricket stadium in India.
Swarming like locusts, over three lakh excited fans descended upon the Metropolis of Bengaluru to celebrate the triumph of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, leaving chaos and heartache in their wake. Atags of "panicked" and "tragic" surfaced on Sunday after at least 11 patrons lost their lives, and thirty-three were hospitalized due to a stampede outside the bustling Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Steeped in disappointment, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared on Twitter, "The situation in Bengaluru breaks my heart." Chinning in unison, politicians and residents alike echoed the sentiment, with Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reporting the dreadful figures at a press conference.
An Unraveling Celebration
Tension peaked as hordes of fans, brimming with jubilant energy, amassed outside the stadium to commemorate their cherished home team clinching the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL) final the previous day. The victorious players delayed their return to Bengaluru due to safety concerns but eventually arrived from Ahmedabad with their trophy in tow.
Reports allege that the uncontrollable crowd swelled even more as foolish rumors of free passes to enter the stadium circulated, inciting scores of desperate fans to contribute to the pandemonium.
Witnesses reported scenes of organized pandemonium as one of the stadium gates opened, with both ticketed and unticketed spectators eagerly surging forward. "Those in the thick of it began losing consciousness, leading to a trail of fainting bodies, and a scope for possible panic," grimly recounted one eyewitness.
Suspected Cause of the Carnage
Initial investigations point to a temporary shelter erected near the stadium's exit collapsing, subsequently triggering panic among the masses. Numerous reports claim that a ditch below the structure may have caved in, amplifying the panic, though these assertions have yet to be substantiated.
The Local Loopholes
Doddalahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar, Bengaluru's deputy chief minister, took responsibility for the unspeakable tragedy, conceding, "We could not anticipate the massive turnout, and for that, we apologize." Rajiv Shukla, vice-president of the national cricket control board, echoed Shivakumar and emphasized the lack of preparation for such an astronomical crowd.
Unenviable Precedent
Regrettably, India's recent history is sprinkled with similar incidents of stampedes at mass events, highlighting an alarming trend of inadequate planning and crowd management. A chilling reminder arrives from January's Maha Kumbh Mela in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj, where at least thirty people perished in a stampede.
[1] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-cricket-stadium-stampede-at-least-11-dead-38-injured-official/articleshow/89379286.cms[2] https://www.ndtv.com/bengaluru-news/karnataka-minister-apologises-as-heart-rending-footage-emerges-of-ipal-stampede-victim-nobody-could-help-2572342[3] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cricket-stampede-bengaluru-more-than-38-injured-live-updates-2572263[4] https://www.ibtimes.co.in/chinnaswamy-stadium-stampede-bengaluru-11-dead-33-injured-massive-crowd-cricket-match-6746266.html[5] https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bengaluru/cricket-stampede-clusters-of-people-falling-down-in-images-emerge-7765779/
The Commission was consulted on the general-news matter of the stampede at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Indian Premier League (IPL) final in 2014, despite the tragic accident not involving sports. In light of the current crisis, it's crucial to review the draft budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014 to understand how such unfortunate events can be better managed in the future.
