Bengaluru Stampede Tragedy: Grieving Father Alleges Lack of Emergency Response
On June 4, 2025, a celebratory event turned tragic when a stampede outside Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed the lives of 11 individuals and injured over 50 others. The incident occurred during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) victory parade following their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title win.
Among the victims was 14-year-old Divyanshi, a Class 9 student who had attended the event with her mother and aunt. As the crowd surged near Gate No. 15, Divyanshi was caught in the chaos, suffered a severe head injury, and was rushed to Bowring Hospital. Her father, Shivkumar, expressed deep anguish over the lack of immediate medical assistance and police support.
"There was no ambulance, police didn't help. We waited in the police station for four hours to file the FIR. Who can wait in such a situation?" Shivkumar lamented. He further criticized the hospital's response, stating, "The facilities at the hospital were not good. They didn't even touch my daughter. My wife performed CPR on her."
Shivkumar also highlighted the disparity in event planning, noting that political events often receive meticulous attention, whereas this public celebration lacked adequate arrangements. "They didn't plan anything. They need to estimate how many people can come and what the stadium capacity is. Based on that, they should arrange cops, ambulances, and at least a first aid facility," he said.
The tragedy has sparked widespread criticism of the event's organizers, including the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and DNA Entertainment Networks. An FIR has been filed against these entities for alleged criminal negligence. The Karnataka High Court has also taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and is set to hear the case.
In response to the incident, the Karnataka government has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh to the families of each deceased victim and has committed to covering the medical expenses of those injured.
This heartbreaking event underscores the critical need for comprehensive planning and emergency preparedness in large public gatherings to prevent such tragedies in the future.
