ISLAMABAD: At least 11 people lost their lives and dozens were injured in a tragic crowd surge outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, as thousands gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first Indian Premier League (IPL) title win.
The celebrations turned chaotic when an uncontrollable crowd tried to enter the stadium, causing panic and a deadly stampede.
Chaos Erupts During Celebrations
Thousands of fans, many waving the home team’s red flags, lined the streets around the stadium as the victorious team arrived by bus.
Some fans climbed trees and stadium walls to get a better view, leading to overcrowding at the entrance gates.
Police struggled to control the crowd, and efforts to disperse people using force only escalated the chaos. Several people without event passes tried to push through the gates, resulting in a crush that saw some climbing over others to escape the pressure.
Karnataka state chief minister Siddaramaiah expressed his sorrow over the incident, saying, “At a time of celebration, this unfortunate event should not have happened.
We are saddened by this. The fans that showed up were beyond our expectations.” Emergency responders were seen providing CPR to those injured, while ambulances rushed to the scene.
Crowd Control Challenges and Previous Incidents
Eyewitnesses reported that police caned people near the gates, which worsened the situation. Authorities admitted that the crowd quickly became uncontrollable and arrangements were insufficient to handle such a large turnout.
Although free passes were distributed through the team’s website, the number of attendees far exceeded expectations. Meanwhile, nearby Bengaluru Metro services were halted as the event continued inside the stadium despite the turmoil outside.
Unfortunately, stampedes and crowd-related accidents are a recurrent issue in India during large gatherings, whether sporting events or religious festivals.
Earlier this year, a stampede during the Maha Kumbh Hindu festival claimed at least 30 lives as millions gathered for a sacred ritual.
