Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described the stampede near Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations, which resulted in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries, as an “unexpected tragedy.” He clarified that the event at the stadium was organized by the Karnataka State Cricket Association, not the state government.
At a press conference, Siddaramaiah noted, “The Chinnaswamy Stadium has a capacity of 35,000, but approximately 2 to 3 lakh people attended. Around one lakh people gathered in front of Vidhana Soudha, but fortunately, no incidents occurred there. This was unforeseen, even by the Cricket Association.” He added, “Stampedes have happened before, including at the Kumbh Mela. I’m not justifying this.”
He announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and assured free medical treatment for the injured. An investigation is currently underway, with a Deputy Commissioner-level inquiry ordered by the government.
In a post on X, he expressed, “A moment of joy has been overshadowed by sorrow,” mourning the lives lost and offering condolences to the grieving families. The incident took place on Wednesday evening as thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium to celebrate RCB’s highly anticipated IPL title win. Despite prior concerns about crowd control, the massive turnout led to a stampede-like situation, resulting in multiple casualties and serious injuries.
Siddaramaiah, who visited Bowring and Vaidehi hospitals to meet with the injured and their families, mentioned that the government had denied permission for a full-scale victory parade due to safety concerns. “The team was not permitted to hold a victory parade, anticipating a potential incident,” he stated.
