Eleven Killed in Bengaluru Stampede Following RCB Victory Celebration
Bengaluru Stampede: A stampede occurred outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru following a Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) victory celebration. The massive crowd resulted in the tragic deaths of 11 people and injuries to over 33 others. This incident has sparked heated political debate in Karnataka, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's response drawing significant attention.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Statement
Responding to media inquiries, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep sorrow, stating that such a tragedy should not have occurred. He announced, "The government expresses its deepest condolences. This incident happened near the Chinnaswamy Stadium during the victory celebrations. The families of the deceased will receive 10 lakh rupees in compensation, and the government will cover the treatment costs of the injured."
Crowd Far Exceeded Expectations
CM Siddaramaiah acknowledged that the government had underestimated the crowd size. He stated, "The stadium's capacity is only 32,000, but 2 to 3 lakh people gathered. People broke down the stadium gates, leading to the stampede. Crowd control efforts proved inadequate."
"We Will Not Politicize This"
Siddaramaiah refused to engage in political point-scoring, stating, "I am not defending this incident. We have ordered a magisterial inquiry and requested a report within 15 days. Our aim is to identify those responsible and prevent such incidents in the future."
RCB's Official Statement
RCB also expressed deep sorrow, stating, "We learned about this unfortunate incident from media reports. Our team and management are deeply saddened. We express our condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. Our priority is the safety and well-being of the people."
Questions Raised About Security Arrangements
The Bengaluru police and local administration's roles are under scrutiny following the incident. Experts believe there was a lack of advance planning for such a large crowd, and that traffic and security arrangements were insufficient.
Former police officers believe that public events require advanced planning for crowd control and emergency response systems, which were evidently lacking in this case.
Political Upheaval
The opposition has criticized the state government over the incident. BJP leaders have called it governmental negligence and even demanded the CM's resignation. The Congress party, however, maintains that the government is sensitive to the issue and will take firm action.
Ongoing Legal Investigation
The government has ordered a magisterial inquiry and stated that strict action will be taken against those found culpable. The state government is also considering developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for future events to strengthen crowd control and emergency planning.
