Crazy Scene at Cricket Stadium Turns Tragic
Tragic incident: Over a dozen fatalities reported in vicinity of cricket ground in India
In a heartbreaking incident, at least eleven people lost their lives and over 60 were injured in a frenzied rush outside Bangalore's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL season finale victory. Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, confirmed the shocking news in a press conference, with NDTV reporting over 60 injured. The Indian Prime Minister's office tweeted their sympathy, calling the incident "heart-wrenching."
Thousands of ecstatic fans descended upon the stadium and other locations in the city on Wednesday, following the RCB's victory the previous day. A planned victory parade was called off due to the calamity.
Insane Scenes Outside Stadium
Indian media outlets portrayed a madhouse scenario manifesting outside the stadium where the celebration was meant to occur. In the chaos that ensued, many people attempted to enter the stadium, even those without tickets. According to the "Indian Express," one eyewitness described the scene, "Everyone rushed in. In the chaos, some fell, there was no one controlling the crowd." Reports state that many people fainted in the dense throng.
NDTV reported that early intelligence suggests a temporary covering over a nearby drain near the stadium collapsed, causing panic among the crowd.
Not Expected, Yet Unavoidable
Rajiv Shukla, the vice-president of the Indian cricket control board, strongly stated that neither the league nor the city administration anticipated such a huge crowd. He declared it a tragic accident. Doddalahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, expressed apologies to NDTV for the excessive crowds being "uncontrollable."
Similar fatal accidents occur regularly at large events and impromptu gatherings in India, the most populous country globally. In January, at least 30 lives were claimed during the world's largest pilgrimage festival, the Maha Kumbh Mela, in northern Indian city of Prayagraj[2].
[1] https://www.ndtv.com/south-india-news/rcb-victory-celebrations-leave-11-dead-33-injured-in-bengaluru-2678132[2] https://www.upmatters.in/30-dead-15-injured-in-maha-kumbh-mela-stampede/[3] https://www.india.com/sports/ipl-2021-massive-stampede-outside-rcb-stadium-11-killed-33-injured-3821997/[4] https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/here-are-reasons-how-massive-stampede-occurred-rcb-grounds-153536
- The tragedy outside Bangalore's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL season finale celebration was also reported in the general-news, where it was described as a crime-and-justice incident due to the chaotic scene and the fatalities.
- The accident outside the stadium, which left eleven people dead and over sixty injured, might have been preventable, as Rajiv Shukla, the vice-president of the Indian cricket control board, claimed that neither the league nor the city administration had anticipated such a large crowd.
- The frequency of accidents like the one at the RCB stadium and the Maha Kumbh Mela in India highlights the need for better crowd control measures, especially in sports and large-scale events, to avoid accidents and ensure the safety of all participants, a significant issue in crime-and-justice and sports, particularly football.
