Bengaluru:

The celebratory mood turned tragic as the stampede led to the loss of lives as crowds rushed towards the stadium gates to attend the event organised to mark the RCB's IPL victory. Eleven people, including a woman, died and 47 others were injured in a major stampede at the gates of M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday, where at least 2 lakh fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru after the team won its maiden IPL title on Tuesday.

11 people, including a woman, had lost their lives in the stampede, a number Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed later in the evening. As many as 33 others were injured in the stampede, the CM said. Dr M S Humera of Vaidehi Hospital confirmed the death of four people. "As many as 16 people were brought to the hospital. Of them, four were dead before reaching the hospital. Others have sustained minor injuries and they are being treated," she said.

The deceased and the injured were taken to Bowring Hospital, where the condition of at least three people was said to be critical and Vaidehi Hospital. The names and other details of the deceased and the injured persons are yet to be shared by the authorities.

What Happened?

The stampede was triggered as thousands of fans sought to enter the stadium by breaking the barricades, even as police resorted to a mild lathi-charge. A special felicitation ceremony in the stadium for the RCB team was organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). According to eyewitnesses, the stampede emerged as fans thronged the venue of felicitation. Visuals showed police shifting the injured persons and those who fell unconscious in ambulances to nearby hospitals.

According to a traffic advisory from the Bengaluru police, entry to Chinnaswamy Stadium was limited to only those with valid tickets and passes."As there is limited parking facility available near the Chinnaswamy Stadium, those who are attending the event are advised to use public transport and Metro. The public is requested to cooperate," it had said.

Some of those who were in an unconscious state were being administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by those nearby. Police had a tough time in crowd management as a large number of cricket enthusiasts tried to gain entry, at the same time, into the stadium.

Police officials stated that the ambulances were unable to move quickly to the hospital due to the overcrowding on the roads. In a separate incident, one fan, while climbing a gate to jump into the stadium, fell and broke his leg, according to IANS.

The government of Karnataka had earlier cancelled the victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium, citing security reasons. Earlier today, when the RCB team arrived at the HAL airport here, they were personally welcomed by Deputy CM D K Shivakumar. He presented bouquets to each player. Shivakumar especially greeted cricketer Virat Kohli, presenting him with both the RCB team flag and the Kannada flag.

PM Modi Offers Condolences:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the families of those who had lost their kin in the stampede. "The mishap in Bengaluru is absolutely heartrending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery," PM Modi said.

CM Siddaramaiah Orders Probe; Announces Rs 10 Lakh Ex-Gratia:

Expressing shock over the deaths, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a magisterial inquiry into the stampede, besides announcing an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased.

He also said the Government will bear the medical expenses of all the injured admitted to private hospitals. "It is an unexpected tragedy. As many as 11 people have died in the stampede, and 47 people have been injured. "Fortunately, all the injured are out of danger. Some have even been discharged," he said.

He said the stampede happened as RCB fans came in big numbers. "Around 2 lakh people came to Chinnaswamy Stadium, while its seating capacity is just 35,000. We had not expected this," he added.

However, the Government decided to conduct an inquiry. "I will ask the district magistrate to submit a report in 15 days. We will take action based on the inquiry report," he added.

Reacting to the allegations of the opposition BJP, the CM said he did not want to politicise the incident. He also dismissed the opposition's allegation that police were against organising a felicitation in front of the Vidhana Soudha.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the crowd was uncontrollable and police were finding it difficult.

Karnataka Government 'Responsible', Says Opposition:

Opposition parties held the Karnataka government responsible for the tragedy. Opposition Leader in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka said the government had not made any preparations for crowd management. BJP Karnataka chief Vijayendra demands a judicial inquiry into the stampede.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H D Kumaraswamy, while expressing shock over the tragic incident, questioned the lack of preparedness. "It is a shocking incident. I am pained by the death of innocent lives. The lack of preparedness on the part of the authorities is responsible for this tragic incident. The State Government must own the responsibility," he said in his statement. He urged the government to ensure better treatment for the injured and to rush to the aid of the bereaved families.

RCB Says 'Deeply Anguished':

Following the tragic stampede, Royal Challengers Bengaluru released an officiall statement saying, "We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light through media reports regarding public gatherings all over Bengaluru in anticipation of the team’s arrival this afternoon. The safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance to us. RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extend our heartfelt condolences to the affected families."

"Immediately upon being made aware of the situation, we promptly amended our program, and followed the guidance and advice of the local administration. We urge all our supporters to please stay safe," reads the statement.

Not Anticipated, Says BCCI V-P:

BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla said that while the government had stopped the roadshow to avoid any untoward situation, it was not anticipated that a stampede would happen outside the stadium. "Everybody should work together on the damage control," he said.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, meanwhile, said the turn of events was shocking and the organisers should have been better-prepared. "It's most unfortunate, organisers should have planned RCB's IPL-winning celebrations better...When one organises a victory celebration of this magnitude, proper precautions and security measures need to be taken," PTI quoted Saikia as having said.

Celebrations Went On In Chinnaswamy:

Inside the Chinnaswamy, the show went on with players delivering speeches to acknowledge each other and the fans amid thumping music and the bursting of firecrackers.

Perhaps mindful of the tragedy outside the stadium, Virat Kohli was not his usual exuberant self but still managed to draw emotional roars from spectators who thronged the Stadium.

"It's for all of you - the fans, the people of this wonderful city, people who've supported RCB through thick and thin. I've never seen any fanbase of any team in the world like this franchise," said Kohli, who was the cynosure of all eyes after ticking another box in his illustrious career. RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in the IPL final at Ahmedabad on Tuesday to clinch their maiden title in 18 years.

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