Bengaluru stampede aftermath: Scene strewn with footwear, bent railings; video shows haunting trail of panic | India News

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Bengaluru stampede aftermath: Scene strewn with footwear, bent railings; video shows haunting trail of panic

NEW DELHI: The aftermath of Wednesday’s deadly stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium was starkly visible on Thursday morning. Twisted railings at the Karnataka Vidhana Soudha, footwear strewn across entry points, and signs of a city still reeling from the tragedy that unfolded during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations.At least 11 people died and 75 were injured in one of the worst fan-related tragedies in Indian cricket history. The stampede broke out at Gate No. 7 of the stadium, around two kilometres from the state assembly, after rumours spread that free tickets were being distributed for the felicitation event. Visuals from the site showed belongings of victims scattered across the road — slippers, broken barricades, torn shirts — painting a grim picture of the scale of panic.“People completely lost control. It was a disaster,” said Achimanya, an eyewitness from Rajajinagar. The chaos intensified around 5:30 pm when sudden rain added to the confusion. With poor crowd management and ambiguity around the entry process, the crowd surged forward, causing a fatal crush.The Karnataka government, under criticism from the opposition BJP, has announced a Rs 10 lakh compensation to families of the deceased and free treatment to the injured. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) also pledged Rs 5 lakh to each bereaved family. Meanwhile, a magisterial inquiry has been ordered to investigate the lapses.Eyewitnesses allege that police presence was inadequate, especially as over 3 lakh fans poured into the area for the celebrations. With both the Vidhana Soudha event and the stadium felicitation scheduled back-to-back, the stretched police force struggled to maintain control. Lathi charges were reported near Cubbon Park Circle, as ambulances tried to clear a path through the packed crowd.“I could avoid the worst only because I reached late,” said Sinchana N (25), a survivor. “Cops were not controlling the crowd in the real sense, and were just pushing people around.”Despite prior warnings, officials went ahead with plans for a victory parade featuring Virat Kohli and the RCB squad, celebrating their first-ever IPL title win. Lack of clear communication on ticket distribution and entry gates further contributed to the confusion.





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