The tragic stampede at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) maiden IPL victory on Wednesday, has left a scar on the city and the families of the deceased. Amidst the chaos and mourning, a heart-wrenching scene unfolded as a father pleaded with authorities not to conduct a postmortem on his son's body.
The stampede, which claimed the lives of 11 people and injured dozens more, occurred as an estimated 2 to 3 lakh fans gathered outside the stadium, far exceeding its 35,000 capacity. Conflicting information about a victory parade seems to have contributed to the massive overcrowding and subsequent disaster. While the Bengaluru Traffic Police announced early Wednesday that there would be no victory parade, a later statement from the RCB team management indicated otherwise, leading to widespread confusion among fans.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, as bodies were taken to various hospitals for postmortem procedures, an inconsolable father's grief became a focal point. His plea, "Don't cut his body into pieces," resonated deeply with many and highlighted the raw pain and desperation experienced by the families who lost loved ones. "At least give his body. Don't do a postmortem," he urged. Struggling to contain his emotions, he lamented, "I had only one son, and now I have lost him. He came here without informing me... The CM and Deputy CM will come and offer condolences, but who will bring back my son?"
The father's anguish underscores the personal tragedy behind the statistics. His son was among the predominantly young victims, including students and young professionals, who had gathered to celebrate RCB's historic win. The stampede not only took lives but also shattered families and dreams. Bhumik, a second-year engineering student, Sahana, a software engineer, and Purnachand, a civil engineer with recent engagement plans, were among those whose lives were tragically cut short.
The Karnataka government has initiated an inquiry into the incident, promising a report within 15 days to determine the causes of the stampede and identify lapses in crowd management. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed regret over the incident, and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar acknowledged the challenges of controlling such a large and enthusiastic crowd. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
The incident has sparked criticism regarding the planning and execution of the victory celebrations. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has even accused Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of being responsible for the tragedy, citing "impatience, immaturity, and irresponsibility." Questions are being raised about why the celebrations continued inside the stadium while the situation outside spiraled out of control.
As the city mourns, the focus remains on supporting the affected families and ensuring that such a tragedy never occurs again. The plea of the grieving father serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the stampede and the importance of accountability and improved safety measures for large-scale public events. The autopsies have been performed and the bodies have been handed over to their families.
