Bengaluru: Celebrations over Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic maiden IPL triumph turned tragic on Wednesday, with several persons feared dead and many others injured in a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here.
As per reports, at least 10 persons died in the stampede. The injured were rushed to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Shivajinagar.
The incident occurred at one of the stadium gates in the heart of the city’s central business district, where thousands of jubilant fans had gathered since early in the day, eager to catch a glimpse of their victorious team and the coveted IPL trophy.
The crowd swelled rapidly by the afternoon, ahead of a planned appearance by the RCB squad following their felicitation by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at Vidhana Soudha.
According to police sources, the situation spiralled out of control when the stadium gates remained closed despite the growing crowd, triggering a stampede near one of the entrances. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic, with several people falling and being trampled in the rush.
Scary visuals emerging from Bengaluru — a stampede during celebrations has reportedly left several injured and a few dead. The situation appears critical.
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Vehicular movement in and around the stadium came to a standstill, as Metro stations and nearby roads were overwhelmed by the massive influx of supporters. Traffic police reportedly struggled to manage the surging crowd and restore order.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and other senior officials visited the spot to assess the situation. An official statement on the number of casualties is awaited.
Meanwhile, the RCB team’s scheduled public appearance at the stadium has been postponed until further notice.
Further details are awaited.
