The stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the victory celebration of the RCB has sparked off a political storm in Karnataka, with the opposition BJP targeting the Siddaramaiah government for failing to make adequate arrangements for the event.
At least 11 people died and scores of others were injured in the stampede that took place on Wednesday evening.
“The shocking reports that more than 10 fans have died and many others have been injured in a stampede in Bengaluru have caused great sadness and dismay,” former chief minister B.S. Yedyurappa said as he appealed to people to exercise restraint and prioritise safety.
The BJP leader said that the state government had completely failed to make adequate and necessary arrangements for the event.
“The failure of such an incompetent and irresponsible state government has cast a shadow over the celebrations. Even though lakhs of fans were likely to attend, if they could not make arrangements, why did they allow the event?” he asked.
“This incompetent government must be held responsible for the tragedy that could have been prevented by taking precautions,” Yediyurappa further said.
Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra demanded a judicial enquiry into the stampede.
"First of all, the state government, without any preparedness, should not have organised this today. If you had seen the World Cup match when India won, there was a big celebration in Mumbai also with a lot of preparations. When lakhs and lakhs of people celebrated last night in Bengaluru, the state government should have thought before organising a function today itself," he told reporters.
BJP MP Tejaswi Surya also attacked the Siddaramaiah government and said steps should be taken immediately to compensate the victims.
"Absolutely gutted by the tragic reports coming in from Chinnaswamy. What should have been a celebration of joy & loyalty turned out to be so fatal. While the state government & leadership were busy hogging their undeserving share of limelight in RCB's victory with the CM himself making an open invitation for the celebration, no arrangements were made on the ground," he wrote on X.
"Despite being aware of the situation from last night, the government failed to plan this out & took bizarre last-minute decisions. Steps must be taken immediately to compensate the victims & hold the concerned accountable. This is not what the people of Bengaluru & @RCBTweets deserved," the BJP MP said.
The stampede broke out as thousands of RCB fans gathered at the venue to catch a glimpse of the team after their first-ever title win in the Indian Premier League. The felicitation was organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
Several people have been injured and rushed to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital and Vydehi Super Speciality Hospital.
"Total sixteen casualties were brought in, four were brought dead, three are male and one female. They are of young age between 20-30 years....remaining 12 are stable," a Vydehi Super Speciality Hospital official told PTI. He added that the cause of death may be suffocation.
Videos circulating on social media showed police shifting the injured persons and those who fell unconscious in ambulances to nearby hospitals. They also showed some of those who were in an unconscious state being administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by those nearby.
In his first reaction, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said more people turned up at the event than what they had expected.
“There was a stampede. No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came," he said at a press conference.