Bharath Ramraj in Bengaluru
It was supposed to be a day of celebration in the aftermath of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s memorable IPL triumph. To start with, the players were expected to meet the dignitaries at the Vidhana Soudha, followed by a bus parade and subsequent celebrations inside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Unfortunately, it turned out to be ghastly scenes outside the Chinnaswamy as multiple people lost their lives and several were injured in a stampede.
So, how did the situation escalate so quickly? What was the scene like at noon through the 2 km stretch between the two venues? Was there any foreboding of the grim events that took place?
At around 1 PM, there was a sense of calm. One could comfortably walk through that stretch without any hassle. But about two hours later, things began to get out of hand: a few had climbed on the gates to get inside the Vidhana Soudha, while others had climbed on top of the bus and a nearby statue.
It had become common to see hundreds of people on the steel railings of the divider and on trees. The police personnel were having a tough time controlling the unrestrained enthusiasm of the fans. There were a few mild lathi-charges as well. By then, about 4 lakh people had gathered outside the Vidhana Soudha and Chinnaswamy — an overwhelming number.
By around 4.40 PM, the bus that was to go on a parade over the 2 km stretch arrived at the Vidhana Soudha. Virat Kohli and company soon greeted Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, inside the Vidhana Soudha. Outside, the heavens opened up, leading to even more chaos.
Fans began pushing and jostling in an attempt to escape the downpour. The few sheltered areas around were suddenly overcrowded with supporters. It was sheer mayhem.
By then, many appeared to be suffering from health issues like back spasms and sprains. A few might have fainted too. Yours truly was also pushed against the railings several times, sustaining hits on the hands and legs repeatedly.
Further down the road, something terrible had occurred. The crowd outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium had swelled to manic proportions. With many unable to get in, they started banging on the gates. Some climbed the gates in desperation. In reality, Chinnaswamy can only accommodate 35,000 fans. Also, outside the stadium lies the bustling Queen’s Road, with a narrow footpath.
Massive peepal trees near the gates further constrained movement. Navigating the footpath amid such a humongous crowd became almost impossible. That’s when the situation spiralled out of control, resulting in deaths and injuries. Despite the chaos, the programme inside the stadium went on. Eventually, some sense prevailed and it was cut short.
All that the fans had wanted was a fleeting glimpse of their heroes, especially Kohli. Fate, though, had something else in store. Sirens wailed and police were seen carrying bodies on their shoulders. An evening meant for festivity had turned into a nightmare for some.
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