Free entry to the Chinnaswamy Stadium led to massive rush at gates, triggering stampede. Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the state government to file a status report on the stampede outside the cricket stadium here that led to at least 11 deaths and injuries to over 50 people.
Bereaved family members mourn the death of their loved one; (right) Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah meets an injured person. Pics/PTI
Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the state government to file a status report on the stampede outside the cricket stadium here that led to at least 11 deaths and injuries to over 50 people.
The court, after taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, issued notice to the state, and tasked it to file a detailed status report by June 10.
At least 11 people were killed and 56 others injured in the stampede during the IPL victory celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
When the matter came up before the division bench, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty said the announcement of free entry to the stadium led to a massive rush at the gates, triggering stampede.
He made it clear that the government does not intend approaching the matter in an adversarial way. “This is not about blame games. The aim is to understand what went wrong and ensure such tragedies don’t recur,” he said.
Referring to the deployment of police and security personnel during the citywide celebrations following, the AG said that the situation, however, turned chaotic outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where more than 2.5 lakh people had gathered, far exceeding the venue’s capacity of 30,000.
The bench observed that large public events must be guided by clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). “Ambulances must be available at the venue, and there should be clarity about the nearest hospitals,” the bench noted. Responding to this, the AG said that ambulances were indeed present, but admitted they were not adequate for an emergency of this scale.
“The issue was not their absence, but the number,” he explained. The AG further informed the court that a magisterial inquiry had already commenced and it would be completed within 15 days.
The state is treating the matter with utmost seriousness and notices have been served to all relevant parties, including the event management agency. “We are examining potential lapses. No one is being let off,” he told the court.
BJP demands resignation
The BJP on Thursday demanded the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, holding the Congress government in the state responsible for the stampede incident.
BJP MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that the “mutual fight and rift” between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar led to the state “government-manufactured stampede”. He recalled last year’s arrest of Telugu actor Allu Arjun in a stampede case in Telangana, where the Congress is in power, and asked if the party would follow the same rule in Karnataka and arrest its two senior leaders.
He also slammed Rahul Gandhi and asked him to break his silence on the incident. “This is clearly the failure of the state government, and they will have to own up to it. The CM and the Dy CM will have to resign for the deaths of 11 innocent people and those who suffered injuries in the incident,”he said.
BJP playing politics: Dy CM
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday turned emotional over the loss of lives and said that Bengaluru has lost its image while the opposition BJP and JD(S) are playing politics on dead bodies. He also said that the state government has taken full responsibility for the incident. Reacting to allegations by the opposition that police had not given permission for celebrations, he said, “I don’t want to react to any of these BJP guys. I am only answerable to the people of Karnataka... All BJP persons are nonsense... They are also the mastermind of these dirty things.”
“We are deeply hurt. The victims are our own family. The image of Karnataka, the image of Bengaluru...Yes we take it (responsibility),” Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar said.
11
At least number of people killed in stampede
RCB announces Rs 10 lakh for families
Bengaluru: IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the 11 supporters who lost their lives in a stampede. “The unfortunate incident has caused a lot of anguish and pain to the RCB family,” RCB said in a statement on Thursday. “As a mark of respect and a gesture of solidarity, RCB has announced a financial support of Rs 10 lakh to each of the 11 families of the deceased. In addition, a fund called RCB Cares is also being created to support fans injured in this tragic incident,” it said.
RCB has drawn widespread criticism for going ahead with the victory celebrations just a day after winning the trophy, denying the administration and police authorities enough time to arrange adequate security needed for an event of such magnitude. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has already questioned the lapses in arrangement and also stressed on the need for proper coordination between the franchise, the police and the district administration for smooth conduct of such an event.
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