Stampede at RCB Victory Parade in Bengaluru Leaves 11 Dead, 47 Injured
RCB Victory Parade: The celebrations for Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) victory in IPL 2024 have turned into a tragedy. A stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in 11 deaths and 47 injuries. A high-level investigation is underway into the roles of RCB management, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and officials involved in the event's organization. The court and the state government have taken the matter seriously.
Social Media Post Under Scrutiny
A social media post by RCB management is now at the center of the investigation. At 3:14 PM on June 4th, RCB's official X (formerly Twitter) account posted about a "Victory Parade" starting at 5 PM, followed by an award ceremony at the stadium.
The post also mentioned free passes available on their website and urged fans to follow police guidelines. However, controlling such a large crowd in such a short time proved difficult.
KSCA's Role Questioned
According to investigating officials, senior members of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) played a role in planning the event. Bengaluru police and a magistrate inquiry panel are reviewing whether sufficient notice was given and whether adequate security arrangements were in place. The government lawyer alleged in the High Court that the organizers showed negligence in crowd management, leading to the tragedy.
Government Issued Prior Warning
Karnataka's Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, clarified that the state government did not permit such an event. He stated that neither the RCB franchise nor the KSCA sought formal permission from the government.
According to the Home Minister, "The government only thought that since the city's team had won, we should honor the players. However, the parade was planned by RCB and KSCA independently."
Extensive Court Hearings Underway
Hearings are underway in the Karnataka High Court, where the government argued that the organizers exhibited gross negligence in crowd control. The court has made it clear that all parties involved will be held accountable.
Until the magistrate inquiry report is released, the government has refrained from drawing conclusions but hinted at strict action against negligent officials.
Government to Assist Affected Families
The Home Minister expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, calling the incident unfortunate. He stated, "The loss of 11 innocent lives is deeply saddening. We pray for the strength of the affected families. The government assures that all possible assistance will be provided to the affected families, and the guilty will not be spared."
Questions Raised About Fan Safety
RCB fans were excited about the event, but crowd assessment and security arrangements proved inadequate. Many on social media criticized the organizers, stating that safety cannot be overlooked in such public events.
