At least 10 individuals were killed in a tragic incident outside the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru, India, on Wednesday, as thousands gathered to celebrate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory parade following their Indian Premier League (IPL) title win. The chaos unfolded when a surge of fans attempted to enter the stadium through a small gate that had not yet been opened, leading to the stampede according to police officials.
Initially, officials estimated that around 20,000 fans would attend the victory parade, but reports indicate that more than 200,000 supporters turned out in exuberant celebration of the team's recent success over the Punjab Kings in the IPL final. The RCB team had arrived at the old HAL airport, greeted by Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar before being led in a procession to their hotel.
This was only the beginning of the festivities, as the team was slated to be received on the steps of the iconic Vidhana Soudha, the seat of Karnataka's state legislature. Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and several other ministers planned to honor the team there before heading to the stadium.
As early as the afternoon, masses of fans, adorned in RCB jerseys, began converging on the stadium from various directions. The metro trains became overcrowded, with many individuals, including a PulseWire reporter, unable to board due to the throngs of fans chanting in support of their team. Autos and taxis were scarce, forcing many to walk long distances before reaching the vicinity of the stadium.
Following the tragic news of the crush and ensuing fatalities, panic ensued within the crowd as people scrambled to reach the metro stations. In response to the situation, authorities swiftly shut down the metro stations near the stadium to manage the overwhelming crowds on the platforms. The incident serves as a grave reminder of the potential dangers during large public gatherings when crowd control measures are inadequate.
