Disgrace says, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, termed the tragic incidents outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday eveningTeam had not reached its hotel when people had gathered outside the stadium; crowds milled and the jostling and shoving intensified
Police resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd. PIC/PTI
‘Shocked. Disgraced’. That is how Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), termed the tragic incidents outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday evening, when triumph turned to tragedy in the bat of an eyelid, as he echoed the sentiments of millions in India and outside.
Bengaluru had gone into celebratory mode from Tuesday night once Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were formally crowned IPL champions for the first time, after 17 unsuccessful attempts. An impromptu event in the celebrations, including fans, was organised for Wednesday.
The team had not even reached its hotel when more than 25,000 people had gathered outside the stadium, desperately looking for a way in. This was a little after 3 pm; the ‘event’ wasn’t for at least a couple more hours. Screams of ‘RCB’ and ‘Kohli Kohli’ made for a festive atmosphere, though one couldn’t shake off the unmistakable feeling that something grim was about to unfold.
As the crowds milled and the jostling and shoving intensified, an inevitable stampede unfolded. Several lives were lost, and numerous other fans were injured and rushed to hospitals in the vicinity. Not all of them were transported in ambulances; the distinct lack of preparedness was evident in people running out of the stadium holding unconscious supporters in their arms.
Those inside the stadium seemed insulated from the horrific events outside. They celebrated with gusto when the players lined up on the dressing room balcony to hold the trophy aloft, and they hit peak decibel levels when Virat Kohli attempted to speak a few words.
For a full five minutes, Bengaluru’s most famous adopted son waited patiently with a smile, struggling to keep his emotions in check. Wish those outside had shown the same patience. Wish those who decided to put on this show at such short notice had shown the same patience instead of rushing to put this show together at terribly short notice.
This isn’t the time to play the blame game, but those responsible for this turn of events must be held accountable. It won’t bring back lives tragically, needlessly snatched away, but it will go a long way in ensuring that there are no repeat disasters. How do you console a family member who lost their kin for no reason? Celebrations of sporting successes aren’t meant to end this way. Not in unchecked tears of loss, needless catastrophe.
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