Bengaluru stampede: 3 under-20s, youngest 13, die during RCB celebration at Chinnaswamy stadium — what we know so far

The tragic stampede at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday killed 11 people, and all the victims were under 40 years of age. The dead included a 13-year-old girl, while the other two teenagers were just 17 and 19 years old, reported NDTV.

Royal Challengers Bangalore won the IPL trophy after an 18-year wait on Tuesday in Ahmedabad. Lakhs of people reached the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday to cheer their favourite team's victorious return to Bengaluru.

However, the celebrations ended in tragedy as inadequate security arrangements failed to manage the huge crowd and a stampede took place. As many as 11 people were killed and 47 others injured in the deadly stampede.

List of victims who lost their lives in the stampede:

Divyanshi (13)

Doresha (32)

Bhoomik (20)

Sahana (25)

Akshata (27)

Manoj (33)

Shravan (20)

Devi (29)

Shivalinga (17)

Chinmayi (19)

Prajwal (20)

While Divyanshi—a young fan from Andhra Pradesh—travelled to Bengaluru, Chinmayi Shetty was a localite. Shiva Linga Swamy, a teenager originally from Yadgir district, lived with his family in Bengaluru's Yelahanka.

How did the stampede occur?

The main reasons that may have led to the stampede could be the hasty preparation by the cricket associations, lack of adequate planning and a massive rush of fans.

Multiple questions were also raised about the state government's decision to organise a reception at the Vidhana Soudha where Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar were present. The entire RCB team was felicitated at the event.

Due to the VIP presence at the Assembly complex, a large number of security personnel were deployed there. However, the crowd at the stadium surpassed the capacity. The Chinnaswamy Stadium's capacity is around 35,000, but the number of fans exceeded 3 lakh, and the number of security personnel was in the thousands.

Refused permission

Another report stated that the Bengaluru Police had refused permission for a victory parade as they cited security challenges.

However, the Karnataka State Cricket Association and event organisers went ahead with the celebrations. RCB confirmed a victory parade and announced free passes on a 'first come, first served' basis at 3.14 pm, which led to a large number of people flocking towards the stadium.

There were incidents where people climbed gates, pushed barricades, and some even climbed trees. With security personnel struggling to control the crowd, some of them fell on the ground, and the stampede took place.

CM Siddaramaiah cites Kumbh Mela

While announcing compensation for the families of those killed and free treatment for those injured, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, at a press conference, cited the example of Kumbh Mela.

"Such incidents happened in so many places. I am not going to defend this by comparing it with them now, by saying it happened here and there. In Kumbh Mela, 50-60 people died, but I didn't criticise it. If Congress criticises, then that is a different matter. Did I or the Karnataka government criticise?" he asked.

BJP leader Pralhad Joshi, in the meantime, hit out at the state's Congress-led government. He said that the state government cannot escape responsibility by drawing comparisons. "Kumbh and this is incomparable. When police denied permission, why did you force them? My second question to Siddaramaiah is, after the deaths, you continue your celebration? Why did Deputy Chief Minister (DK Shivakumar) go to receive them? They are busy with selfies, nobody is bothered about what has happened to the common man."

With agency inputs.