RCB Victory Celebration Turns Tragic as 11 Die in the Stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium

BM TEAM

BENGALURU: The victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans turned tragic as 11 people died and 47 were injured in a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.A women and a class 9 student were among the dead as lakhs of fans thronged into the stadium to witness victory celebrations .

Three, who were shifted to Bowring Hospital, were declared dead on arrival, while four others died at Vydehi Multispecialty Hospital on Vittal Mallya Road. It is learnt that the stampede occurred when hundreds tried to enter the stadium through a gate near Cubbon Park. Following the tragedy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has rushed to Bowring Hospital.

Some of the injured were administered CPR by other fans.Several were shifted in police vehicles, ambulances and even in private vehicles. Relatives of the deceased were found crying outside the Bowring Hospital.

The police also had to resort to a lathi charge when fans started swarming inside the stadium. Fans even tried to scale the stadium’s compound wall. One man broke his leg after he fell down while attempting to climb the wall. 

Many fans fainted at Vidhana Soudha, where the RCB players were felicitated by the state government. The felicitation programme was cut short as rains played spoilsport.

The public reacted angrily on social media against ruling party Congress for not taking adequate measures to protect the fans . They criticised government for making this a political event .

Deputy chief Minister D K Shivakumar was shamed and criticised by both the opposition party and public for lifting the victory cup in the stadium.