In the wake of the tragic stampede in Bengaluru during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory celebrations, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has taken immediate action, summoning senior police officials and bureaucrats for urgent discussions following a cabinet meeting. The stampede, which occurred near Chinnaswamy Stadium, resulted in the deaths of 11 people, including a woman and a Class 9 student, and left over 30 others injured.

Expressing deep shock and sorrow, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families, stating that the tragedy had overshadowed the joy of RCB's victory. He announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased and assured free medical treatment for the injured.

The Chief Minister acknowledged that the crowd size was significantly larger than anticipated. While the stadium has a capacity of 35,000, an estimated two to three lakh people gathered for the victory parade. He has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, with a deadline of 15 days for the investigation report to be submitted, promising strict action against those found guilty of negligence.

However, the incident has triggered a political storm, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticizing the Congress-led state government for alleged mismanagement and inadequate safety measures. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya accused the government of turning the event into a political spectacle without proper planning, leading to the "state-orchestrated" disaster. The BJP has demanded the resignation of both CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.

In response, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the BJP of politicizing the tragedy, defending his administration's actions and pointing out that similar incidents have occurred during events like the Kumbh Mela. He stated that he did not criticize when lives were lost during the Maha Kumbh. Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar has apologized for the incident, admitting that the administration did not expect such a massive turnout and assuring a thorough investigation to determine the facts.

The Bengaluru stampede has raised serious questions about crowd management and safety protocols during large public gatherings. The Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and is scheduled to hear the case. The outcome of the magisterial inquiry and the High Court's intervention are expected to bring greater clarity and accountability.