- 6/4/2025
A stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL victory celebrations resulted in at least 11 deaths and 25 grievous injuries.
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00:00All right, these are the latest visuals that are coming in tragic scenes emanating from
00:04the Chinnaswami Stadium.
00:05What we do know right now is that seven have been confirmed dead, unfortunately.
00:11And one needs to underline that the fatalities, the death toll could in fact rise.
00:17What was to be a moment of celebration, 18 years in the making for Bangalore, for Karnataka,
00:25all turned into abject tragedy.
00:29What you can see on your television screens also raise pertinent questions as I speak.
00:36Who failed the fans that you see on your television screen?
00:40And more so the larger question.
00:43As the stampede ensued outside the Chinnaswami Stadium, one by one, fans were picked up, taken
00:52to the hospital.
00:53Some of them resuscitated on ground right there, dead bodies being moved inside.
00:59The celebrations continue, viewers.
01:02That is the tragedy of it all.
01:04At one end, what you see on your television screen.
01:07And that's the sad part today.
01:09Because this is the documentary of completely an unsympathetic, you could call it government,
01:16you could call it the IPL, but zero resonance on what's really taking place on ground, what's
01:23really happening.
01:24The show clearly must go on.
01:26The celebrations must go on.
01:27You can see those shots of the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shiv Kumar, with the entire
01:34team of Bangalore.
01:38But what you do see on the other side is the tragedy.
01:43Because RCB celebrations continue while a stampede ensued outside with crazed RCB fans wanting
01:52to get a glimpse of their superstars of the RCB inside the Chinnaswami Stadium.
01:58So even though, and that's the sad part and that must be told today, viewers, even though
02:03the news of the stampede had trickled inside, even though the authorities that we and that
02:10you can see knew that there was a stampede that was going on, even though seven were dead,
02:17and that's the news that we are breaking right now, that over 11 are dead in the Bangalore stampede,
02:23despite of all of that, the celebrations continue, and that's the tragedy today.
02:29The latest news break that is coming in, viewers, and once again underlining the massive tragedy
02:34that has taken place at the Chinnaswami Stadium in Bangalore, where celebrations of RCB's victory
02:41after 18 years at the IPL were taking place, the felicitation ceremony outside, 11 people have
02:48been killed in a monstrous stampede that took place.
02:52And once again, where is the empathy? Are questions that we're going to continue to ask our viewers.
02:58That where is the empathy of the authorities that be? Where is the accountability?
03:04Was there a sense that this is going to be a groundswell of sorts and only 5,000 security
03:09personnel would be enough? Are questions today that need to be asked?
03:13But the news that we are breaking, unfortunately confirming to our viewers that 11 fans have been
03:20declared dead in the stampede, the visual streaming to you right now on your television screen.
03:27And I would once again, because it is important to reiterate the dichotomy that exists in this
03:33country, viewers, because celebrations will go on despite of people dying just less than 100 meters
03:41away from where that felicitation ceremony was taking place. And let's get you those visuals again,
03:47because if there is one visual that should burn a hole into our conscience of this country,
03:52should be these visuals. Let's play that window again. Let's play those visuals again.
04:02All right. What you see on your television screen, viewers, these two splitting images
04:07practically tell you the story that took place today at the Chinnaswami Stadium. At one end, you had
04:16hapless families trying to make sure that their loved ones were fine fans that had gathered at the Chinnaswami
04:23Stadium to celebrate exactly what was taking place inside. But while dead bodies were wheeled out, carried out,
04:30eleven and counting inside, the celebrations continued as if absolutely nothing had happened.
04:38Those were the visuals that were recorded in a packed stadium, while outside there was a stampede
04:44of fans wanting to get in. I want to cut across right now to my colleague, Sagai Raj, who's joining us
04:50with the very latest right now. Sagai, eleven dead. Are the fatalities set to rise? That's the big question.
04:56It is quite shocking to hear about the eleven deaths and what you also get to learn. The numbers might
05:04increase because patients have been shifted to multiple hospitals. Many of them are still in ICU,
05:10and that is the reason we are waiting for official confirmation from the police. These are 11 numbers
05:16from different hospitals. This is up to 11, and the numbers might increase as well due to the patients who
05:23have been shifted. The large number of patients who have been shifted in multiple ambulances, as well
05:27as auto rickshaws and police vehicles to the hospital. He just spoke to one of the high-beat ministers,
05:32Mr. Mahesh, who just spoke to us. He said that he was trying to give a CPR to one of the disease,
05:38because he could make out that he was no more. He tried to give a CPR, but they couldn't save.
05:43Around three people, according to him, were dead at the spot when the barricade fell on them. There was a
05:48barricade similar to this at the spot, and this fell on the fans who ever tried to enter P4 gate.
06:00According to him, it is P4 gate, and he said that everybody tried to gate crash and try to enter,
06:06and that's when this barricade fell on them, and around three people, according to him, died at
06:11spot, and even he tried to give CPR, and he said that police did not help him. Police even said him that he's
06:18the experience here in Bengaluru, where people have been killed in Stamford.
06:26All right, you know, Sagai, I'm coming right to you. My colleague, Sagai Raj confirming for us that
06:3011 fans have been declared dead. The fatalities all set to rise. Many have been taken
06:34to various hospitals. 25 are grievously injured. So sadly, unfortunately, we will,
06:41you know, are looking at a figure that could rise from the fatalities of 11, but these visuals that are
06:46coming to the fore, and let's play those visuals again, because even while, and that's the sad part,
06:51viewers, where this country is concerned. There's zero empathy. The celebrations continue inside,
06:57outside, people, the fans trying to get in, in a stampede, one by one, trying, the loved ones,
07:05the administration picking them up, wheeling them outside, and that's the splitting image of the
07:10lack of empathy that this country actually has. Of what you can see, both these visuals took place
07:17at the same time, and that's the biggest question that the country needs to face today.
07:20All right, so some of the big questions we are asking in the studio with me is our consulting editor,
07:24Rajdeep Sardisai, tragic day for cricket. But taking you through some of the big questions we
07:29are asking, why did the celebrations continue despite people dying in the stampede? Zero empathy,
07:34with zero respect to the dead. Who takes responsibility for the lack of planning in
07:38management? How was the crowd-controlled strategy planned for an event like this? Because clearly,
07:44after last night's groundswell in Bengaluru, the government of the day had an idea that there
07:49will be a groundswell. Will accountability be fixed for the stampede? All right, reactions coming in.
07:56Rajeev Shukla, possibly the next head of the BCCI, listen in to what he has to say.
08:01Because this is a cricket function. We should not bring politics into cricket. And it can happen
08:06in any state. That means the party in power there should not be blamed for this. You know,
08:13first we should ascertain the facts. After that, we should decide what should happen and who is
08:17responsible. But same⊠So I think it should not be politicized at all. It can happen in any state,
08:26ruled by any political party. That much, if at times it happens in some states where
08:31people are related to the PPP, everybody needs to blame the TPP people. We should not blame the
08:35government. Sir, as a member, is the role of propaganda. I think it's a complex thing from
08:36this country, the people of the country. These people will also be very entvert or
08:38to the country. They can be confused, because they are not around.
08:40It can be confused, because many people are not around. The people of the country moving to the
08:42country are not around to the country. They are not around to the country.
08:43And I am talking about the country to each other. Now, this be clear how this land of the country'
08:44children cannot go over. So there will be clear on the world.
08:48foreign
09:02foreign
09:04foreign
09:08foreign
09:12foreign
09:16What do you have to say about it?
09:18There is a demand that the Chief Minister should resign.
09:20What do you have to say about it?
09:21No, no.
09:22Look, there is a resignation to politicize.
09:24This is politics.
09:32The Vice President of the BCCI, probably the next President of the BCCI,
09:36is stating that this event should not be politicized.
09:38But viewers, this has to be politicized.
09:40Maybe not ask for the resignation of the Chief Minister of Karnataka
09:43because it wasn't asked for the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
09:46when the Kumbh Stampede had taken place.
09:48But accountability needs to be fixed in question, needs to be asked,
09:52especially when it comes down to the lack of empathy.
09:55So, yes, this has to be politicized.
09:57The government of Karnataka is answerable
10:00with the complete lack of planning for this event.
10:03A small example of the possible groundswell that could have taken place today
10:08was last night in Bengaluru.
10:10Was the Karnataka government equipped and did, were they caught?
10:16Napping is the big question.
10:17And those are questions that the Karnataka government needs to answer.
10:21But right now, viewers, if there is one question that everyone is asking,
10:25are we that dead, that from inside, that we can sit through an entire function,
10:32felicitating our cricketers, celebrating while outside a stampede is taking place
10:38and the dead are being wheeled out.
10:40I want to bring in Rajdeep Sardasai, consulting editor, who's with us right now.
10:44Rajdeep, indeed a tragic day for cricket.
10:46It was to be a celebration. See what's it turned out to be?
10:49Terrible. Terrible, terrible, terrible.
10:52And just what you don't want to see. I mean, this was an occasion that Bengaluru was going to celebrate
10:58after 18 years of not getting the IPL title and look at what it's turned out to be.
11:03I think it demands serious questions of the organizers, of the government, of the police, of the entire administration.
11:12There has to be accountability. Without politicizing it, there has to be accountability.
11:19It's not about asking for a chief minister to resign.
11:22It's about fixing some kind of responsibility and accountability, Preeti.
11:27The fact is there is gross negligence here because the manner in which,
11:31if reports are true that there was this drain where the slab broke and people then suddenly panicked,
11:37clearly shows that the KSEA Stadium, the Chinnaswamy Stadium, looks wonderful from inside.
11:42But just outside gate number five, you have a temporary slab which ends up in a drain below.
11:50I mean, I was just speaking to D.K. Shiv Kumar on the phone.
11:54He's at a hospital at the moment.
11:56But D.K. Shiv Kumar, frankly, should have immediately acted and called off the celebrations.
12:01I mean, you can't celebrate when this has taken place.
12:04Now, they are claiming we shortened the celebrations.
12:07Either way, if the information had gone out that there was a stampede and several people had died,
12:12the first thing you do is cancel the celebrations.
12:15I think that's the very least you could have done.
12:18Now, you've got to fix accountability apart from, of course, ensuring that the families of the victims
12:25are empathized with, sympathized given all the support they need.
12:30But this is extremely tragic, Preeti, and it's not an isolated instance.
12:34In the last one year, Delhi rail stampede, stampede in a small state like Goa,
12:40which resulted again in several people losing their lives.
12:43We saw the terrible tragedy at the Kumbh.
12:46I mean, what are we, what does this say, Preeti, about our abilities to manage large crowds?
12:54I mean, the gates, I've been to the Chinnaswamy, the gates are very narrow.
12:58This is the reality.
12:59The gate number five where this has happened, these are all very narrow gates,
13:03not just Chinnaswamy, across Indian stadiums.
13:05I mean, these stadiums are, in a way, dead traps if they are going to have these large crowds coming in with very little control.
13:12The police get outnumbered.
13:13One of the scenes that I'm seeing is a couple of policemen, virtually outnumbered by hundreds of fans rushing through that gate.
13:20And then those poor policemen are desperately trying to pull the people out.
13:24I mean, the police also find it extremely difficult to handle these large crowds at the moment.
13:30But administrations are going to have to decide.
13:33Do you want to reduce everything to a public spectacle or do you want to put safety first?
13:38I think if you put safety first, you will do the celebrations only after all bases are covered.
13:45Otherwise, what we've seen in Bengaluru could happen in any other part of the country.
13:49It is unacceptable and you need accountability.
13:52But, Rajdeep, you know, the fact is there's zero empathy and there is zero value for life.
13:56And that image that played right there, and I want to bring you back into this conversation,
14:00because yes, you know, DK Shiv Kumar might have said we curtailed it.
14:05But I would think an image that will not age well will be that image which we will just play
14:11of DK Shiv Kumar there standing alongside the RCB holding the cup.
14:17Let's play that image.
14:18The image holding the cup which the RCB had won and knowing very well, Rajdeep,
14:25that there was a stampede that had taken place and there were people already dead.
14:30His claim is that he did not know at that moment about the deaths.
14:34He claims that all they knew is that there was some crowd trouble.
14:37Either way, those images, you are absolutely right, will haunt DK Shiv Kumar,
14:41will haunt the Karnataka government that outside the stadium when there is a stampede
14:45and people are dying inside, you've got the minister in charge of Bengaluru celebrating along with the team.
14:52Look, no one grudges celebrations, but celebrations if they are a public spectacle demand public safety.
15:00What we've seen, Preeti, in Bengaluru is a public spectacle without the necessary public safety.
15:06I mean, if you've got these temporary slabs outside the stadium with these large crowds coming in to gather a glimpse of the cricketers,
15:13the police outnumbered, it's been a major, major catastrophe, major negligence.
15:20Right.
15:21And negligence demands accountability to be fixed.
15:23Rajdeep, before I bring inâŠ
15:24As you said, human life in this country comes too cheap, Preeti.
15:27True.
15:28That is the real tragedy.
15:29I want to bring in Bhaskar Rao's spokesperson, Karnataka BJP,
15:31but somebody who's also been at the helm of affairs where policing in Bengaluru is concerned.
15:35But Rajdeep, you know, you need to go. I want to ask you a quick question today.
15:38Who is accountable? It's not just the Karnataka government.
15:41It's the Karnataka government, it's the IPL, it's the franchise, it's everyone has equal blood on their hands today.
15:47Look, as we just saw, BCCI is passing the buck. Everyone will now pass the buck. Everyone wants to celebrate,
15:53but no one will actually take accountability. My belief is eventually it will come down to the police.
15:58This was to a law and order is the local police and the Karnataka government.
16:06The Karnataka Congress government cannot escape responsibility.
16:09But if we convert this typically into BJP versus Congress, it's going to get us nowhere.
16:14As we've seen, we saw it with the BJP government in Uttapadish.
16:17So the franchise have cancelled the event once they knew that an event like that had taken place?
16:22Once, if the franchise knew that people had died in a stampede, of course you've got to cancel it.
16:28If the Karnataka government knew that people had died in the stampede, you have to cancel the event.
16:34I mean, what is more important, your photo op with the players or the lives of innocent Kannadigas?
16:42I mean, that is, you know, that's what I say. We cannot put public spectacles above public safety.
16:47I think that is the message loud and clear whether it is today in Karnataka or any other part of the country.
16:53You'll catch some small time police officer and put all the blame on him.
16:57This must in a way be a lesson, I think, in general for systems to be put in place across this country.
17:05Otherwise, incidents like this will keep recurring and tragically we won't learn the lessons.
17:11Thank you, Rajdeep, for joining us. The fact is, viewers, did the Karnataka government know? Did the franchise know?
17:17Well, they might say they didn't, but they knew. And I'll tell you why they knew.
17:20Because 25 minutes after seven were confirmed dead, seven were already confirmed dead till then, viewers.
17:27Till then, the show kept going on as it was supposed to be.
17:32Should it have happened? Should they have allowed it to have happened? Absolutely not.
17:36Because who was this entire felicitation celebration ceremony for?
17:41More than the players, it was for the fans who value RCB.
17:48And today, seven fans were dead.
17:51But the show went on, practically stating how cheap life is in this country.
17:57I want to cut across to Bhaskar Rao. Once again, spokesperson Karnataka, BJP, somebody who's managed Bangalore at the helm of affairs where policing was concerned at one time.
18:06All right, we'll cut across to Bhaskar Rao in a short while. Atul Wasan, former Indian cricketer, also with us.
18:12Atul Wasan, you've played very closely with the likes of Virat Kohli.
18:16But when you see visuals like that, this is heartbreak.
18:20Oh, my God. I mean, this is heartbreaking. And I think it's so tragic.
18:24And I'm so sad. I was just doing a show.
18:26And I, for one, was wondering that this kind of euphoria, this kind of celebration, what has been achieved, does not merit this kind of skill.
18:36But not holding it against the players or the fans, you know, because they wereâŠ
18:39But this was a knee-jerk reaction. And I think, you know, we can't put the blame and nobody could have foreseen this.
18:46But these things keep on happening, not even in India.
18:48They happen, I mean, a hundred people died in a nightclub in USA even, you know, Bulgaria.
18:52And it happens every year in Saudi Arabia, where everything is so organized.
18:56So, I think this is a force majeure. Nobody can be blamed per se, but yes, it has to be secure.
19:01And we should know that our society is also not very disciplined.
19:04I mean, but going for this point that the show went on, I mean, I cannot believe that they knew about the debts and they still kept in it.
19:13I think there was some kind of a lack of communication.
19:15I would give them the benefit of doubt because nobody is so ruthless and so crass, you know.
19:20And, you know, that the players, I'm sure the players didn't know.
19:23But the people or maybe the head honchos didn't know.
19:26The transformation of information must be lacking because I cannot believe, and if at all it has happened,
19:33that they knew about the debts, and I think probably they were waiting, let a few more,
19:38because as you said, life is very cheap in India.
19:40So, one or a few maybe in single digits didn't hamper even the middle management to tell the head honchos that something is going wrong.
19:48But I think we are insensitive to these kind of tragedies because there are so many of us.
19:54But there's a lesson in the future.
19:56And I think for the politicians to take brownie points overnight and suddenly, you know, felicitate the team.
20:04You know, if they knew there were two teams in the finals, they could have at least planned for it, no?
20:09It was an immediate reaction.
20:10You can see that it was just for optics and getting the eyeballs.
20:13You know, Atul Wasan, before I bring in Alankrita Sahai, she's actor, former Miss India, I want to ask you one question.
20:20Because once again, you know, it brings to the fore something that I think the country already knows,
20:26that cricket is an obsession if not a religion in this country.
20:29And today, with what we saw, the kind of groundswell of the Chinnaswami Stadium that resulted in the tragedy, such as the stampede, signifies exactly that.
20:38This should have been anticipated.
20:40No, I mean, it's not the cricket.
20:42I don't blame cricket, per se.
20:45It is the charm of the superstar culture.
20:47It's the Virat only factor.
20:48And I think this is the kind of traction.
20:50That is why we are seeing this kind of euphoria for the last 24 hours.
20:53Because it's not as if we have won the World Cup.
20:55It is just Virat's skin in the game and Virat's passion that he wanted it so badly that it got everybody behind it.
21:02And Virat has been playing for the same franchise.
21:04So he felt obliged to deliver this at the fag end of his career.
21:08And I think that went across to the people and people actually in their own mind accentuated this as such a hype
21:15that this was be a wall and end all of cricket.
21:18I mean, I'll tell you, there's not even, only one player for Begaluro is in this RCB team.
21:24And neither the coaches nor the support staff, the four foreign coaches,
21:28they will just move on and they'll go on to another gig next week, somewhere.
21:32So, and these poor fans, you know, they don't even know what's happening, you know.
21:35And, you know, they saw Chris Gayle come in, AB De Villers came in.
21:39They didn't come for free.
21:40They're professional, they're mercenaries, you know.
21:42So, I mean, these poor fans who are so gullible,
21:45they actually believe that this is, you know, and they lay down their lives for it.
21:49Well, you know, that's the sad part.
21:51And you put it very aptly, Mr. Vasen, that it was the fans who paid the ultimate price.
22:00Because each of the players that you see will move on from this to another gig.
22:04And like you said, these were cricket mercenaries.
22:06They don't, other than I would reckon with what Virat said,
22:09that for 18 years he's played under the banner of RCB.
22:13But for all the others, well, they picked the best gig, they performed, they moved on.
22:19But the ultimate price of over 11 deaths was paid by the fans of RCB.
22:24Bhaskar Rao, spokesperson, Karnataka BJP is with us, like I said earlier.
22:28One of the top men where policing was concerned for Bengaluru.
22:33Mr. Rao, you know, away from the politics of it all,
22:37and I'm sure you want to react politically to it because you represent a party.
22:40If you look at what really went wrong, what would you say?
22:44What happened today that led to this tragedy?
22:46The government failed to notice the writing on the wall
22:50that frenzy celebrations were going on up till 7.30, 8 in the morning.
22:55So it was very premature to call such a massive celebration to see players in blood and flesh.
23:03There was no urgency to do it.
23:05It could have waited for two days or three days.
23:07And no time was given to the police to prepare themselves.
23:11Such large crowds need massive preparation because people will come from different directions.
23:18And it's a crowd that is full. You can't even latichat this crowd because they are not,
23:23who are breaking some rules and regulations also.
23:26They are all highly excited conditioners.
23:29So, the issue is that there is no need to have called for such premature celebration,
23:37knowing very well that whole night celebrations are already going on.
23:41And number two, when you call for such celebrations, you ought to make a lot of preparations with ambulances,
23:48ropes, barricades, lights, etc., etc., when things are likely to go wrong over there.
23:55Without any preparation, the Home Minister has rushed to conduct this program,
24:00as a result of which you see so many innocent people losing their lives.
24:04And a celebration has become a tragedy.
24:07And we have to live with it for the next five to six days, facing this kind of irresponsible act of the state government.
24:16I'm telling this to you absolutely in a very neutral way and not politicizing the whole thing.
24:25Right.
24:26Mr. Raal, let me ask you a question.
24:27You know, in terms of what we've been given to understand,
24:30is that there were 5,000 police personnel managing the crowds.
24:34Is that number plausible? Is that number enough?
24:37See, 5,000 policemen need to be properly equipped, briefed, and given specific tasks.
24:46You cannot bunch policemen.
24:47And all these policemen were awake throughout the night yesterday from 11.45 onwards till early morning, 7.30, 8 o'clock.
24:54And again, you call them at 1 o'clock and start preparing meals.
24:58There is absolutely no time.
25:00Police were only hurried to carry out the celebration that was there.
25:04And if you are in such a great hurry to celebrate, the police have to rise to the occasion,
25:08and the crowds came from all directions.
25:11Came from all directions.
25:13And no road in Bangalore was free of congestion since yesterday night at 12 o'clock.
25:18Everywhere, youngsters have been moving around.
25:20Food is being sold.
25:22Trackers are being burst.
25:24And people are being sort of jostled around.
25:27You know, Mr. Bhaskar, the reason I'm asking you this question, and I want to make it clear,
25:30because, you know, your identity, at least, is being played as spokesperson, Karnataka BJP, which you are.
25:39But we are asking you these questions in the capacity of being the former commissioner of police,
25:43where Bengaluru is concerned.
25:44So, therefore, I ask you another question, you know, from what you just answered.
25:48So, you're suggesting 5,000 police personnel were enough, but their job had to be earmarked,
25:54which clearly, it didn't seem it was.
25:58See, it is not a question of having a ratio over there.
26:02Sometimes, you have to manage crowd with less police personnel.
26:08You cannot produce police personnel.
26:105,000, mobilizing 5,000 police personnel in about one hour is actually a very difficult thing.
26:17The commissioner may have done it over there.
26:19But it takes time to brief them, equip them, and have a plan.
26:23There is something called a Bandhova scheme.
26:25There is something called an exit plan.
26:27There is something called a riot scheme.
26:29We did all these things.
26:30There were all these things in place.
26:31And you need a lot of ropes for crowd management.
26:35Nothing of that kind was absolutely present here.
26:38And the entire attention was to felicitate the players, despite going well.
26:44That is not the correct way of...
26:46You have paid such a huge prize for that, for absolutely unprepared way of conducting a program.
26:52And that was done in great hurry.
26:55That was done in great hurry, which was not at all necessary.
26:58It could have been done three, four days later also.
27:00Mr Bhaskar Rao, now, you know, I am going to switch to asking you a political question,
27:04because you are representing the BJP as well, from the state of Karnataka as their spokesperson.
27:09So the question I ask you, Bhaskar Rao, is that your party today is asking for the resignation of Sidharamaya.
27:14You know, accountability needs to be fixed immediately.
27:18But when you ask for the resignation of the chief minister, you should be prepared to tender in those resignations as well.
27:24It didn't happen as far back as Goa chief minister, with that horrible stampede that took place at the temple in Goa.
27:30No resignation came there.
27:32No resignation came when the stampede happened in Uttar Pradesh, Kumbh.
27:37Then why ask for resignation of the Karnataka chief minister?
27:40Because you were unprepared to resign yourself.
27:44See, every situation is absolutely different.
27:46You cannot compare each and every situation.
27:49Kumbh is different, Goa is different, Karnataka is different.
27:52In Karnataka, we all knew the writing on the wall.
27:55Since yesterday night, uncontrolled frenzy celebrations were going on.
27:58So why add fuel to the fire?
28:00Kumbh is different, Goa is absolutely different.
28:03There was a totally different gathering over there.
28:05Knowing very well that danger is lurking around, people are unsafe.
28:09In fact, yesterday night itself, two deaths took place.
28:12Because people were riding in a reckless manner.
28:16Seeing all these things, what was the great hurry to do it?
28:18That is what I am asking.
28:19And the party is very right in demanding the resignation of the chief minister.
28:23Because he is absolutely uncared.
28:26No, absolutely not at all bothered.
28:28Carrying his car, carrying the car land and putting the Vaisur Peta on these people.
28:33When people are dying outside, being run over, and police are having a tough time.
28:38Inside a function and the chief minister has the temerity to say, we shortened you.
28:43Why did you not shorten you?
28:45All right.
28:46But Mr Rao, appreciate you joining us.
28:48We are going to let it be.
28:49But I want to just add one thing.
28:50Because you said the situation was very different in other states.
28:53No sir, the situation wasn't different.
28:54What's different is because you were on the other side of the political divide.
28:57If resignations need to be tendered, and I believe they should be tendered.
29:00It should be tendered.
29:01Sir, allow me to.
29:02I am talking to you.
29:03Sir, we had a conversation.
29:06As you, being the former commissioner of police, and I agree, bang on with what you said.
29:10But as a political spokesperson, then if you ask for something, you should be able to tender in the same.
29:18Because otherwise it's nothing but politics.
29:20And I'll tell you why it was not so different.
29:23Kumbh, sir, it's the largest gathering on earth.
29:25So let's just leave it at that.
29:26But you've made fair points.
29:28And I actually do believe that resignations need to be asked, not just of Sidharamaya,
29:33should have been asked earlier of the other chief ministers as well.
29:36But with that, appreciate you taking the time out joining us.
29:38I want to immediately cut across to my colleague Apoorva, and we'll bring in Alankrita Sahai,
29:43who's a prominent citizen of Bengaluru.
29:45But before that, Alankrita, allow me to go to the hospital where we have my colleague Apoorva,
29:50who's joining us with the latest.
29:52What's the death count right now?
29:54Stands at 11.
29:55Unfortunately, Apoorva, we hear that the fatalities could very well rise.
30:00Many injured, taken to different hospitals.
30:02Well, that's right, Preeti.
30:09It's very unfortunate that what started off as a full day of Dharmaka celebrations ended
30:15with around 11 people who have succumbed to injuries.
30:18And several others feared, you know, the count feared to just be increasing as we are speaking.
30:24You know, out of the 11, we are here at Boring Hospital where seven, you know,
30:29people's bodies, deceased have been, you know, bodies have been kept here,
30:33while four are at Vaidehi Hospital.
30:35All of them who have been injured, you know, they are being treated.
30:39Even as I am speaking to you just two minutes back,
30:42we saw two or three ambulances at a stretch coming inside the hospital,
30:46carrying possible, you know, injured and victims as well who were being given medical treatment.
30:52In fact, Chief Minister of Karnataka Sidramaya is also here at the Boring Hospital
30:57where he is interacting with the kit and kin of those who have been injured
31:01and also those who have lost their lives.
31:03The main question that is on everyone's mind is that,
31:06why had there been such a, you know, lapse in arrangements that had been made?
31:11We were there at right outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
31:14We were there in what we would just miss, you know, we missed the being part of the stampede, luckily.
31:21But the situation there was extremely difficult because there wasn't any place to move.
31:27Let me remind you, there wasn't any place for, forget vehicles to move or even people to move,
31:32even ambulances.
31:33When the news broke out that there was a stampede that took place
31:36and that people were getting grievously injured and ambulance were called in to Russian,
31:41there weren't any place for the ambulances also to make way.
31:44People were, you know, there wasn't any possible way for people to give way
31:48because of the crowds that had gathered there.
31:50Yes, they had estimated that 40,000 plus RCB fans will be gathering here.
31:55But given the numbers there, it was definitely not 40,000 but way more than, you know,
32:02the fans had come and these are fans that are coming from all walks of life, all ages,
32:07from across all, you know, places who had come just to catch a glimpse of RCB.
32:12After, you know, there had been an announcement saying that there was an open rally
32:16that was scheduled to take place between Vidant Sauda and Chinnaswamy Stadium.
32:21Several people gathered there on the roads, all of them eagerly awaiting,
32:24just asking one question on their minds, is the RCB bus going to come now?
32:29Are they going to come through this route?
32:31You know, do we have to pay for the tickets?
32:34All of these questions, but there were no answers to be found.
32:37That's one of the major lapses that we had also found when speaking to the public as well.
32:43Enthusiastic fans, but unfortunately, the kind of, you know, administration,
32:49you know, do you call it administration fail? Do you call it, you know, the lack of, you know, the enthusiasm?
32:56Yes, the fans had, but why had they failed to take into account that if there were going to be these large number of people coming,
33:03shouldn't they have also been cautious enough and stayed safely and securely seeing the number?
33:08Shouldn't they have gone back? All of these questions are arising in people's minds, but there's been no answers that has been given.
33:15So far, the death toll is 11 people who have died in this unfortunate incident,
33:21while several others who have also been grievously injured.
33:24But, you know, some have broken their hands, some have fractured their legs, some who were found limping.
33:30And this even amidst, you know, a flutter of rain that took place for a brief 10 minutes there.
33:37And even during that time, even come rain or, you know, sunshine, the fans stayed there.
33:43Yes, loyalty to RCB, but at what cost? That's the question that remains to be.
33:49Well, you're right there. You know, one would say the ultimate price today was paid by nobody else but the poor fans of RCB.
33:56Because, like earlier, you had Mr. Atul Wasan, our cricketer himself, who pointed out,
34:02because everybody you see in the team, save one, practically cricket mercenaries,
34:06they will be picked up, they will accept the best bid in terms of money and go and play for that particular team,
34:13while the maximum skin in the game is for the fans of RCB.
34:19And today, 11 of those due to the complete lack of planning paid the ultimate price.
34:25And what was even worse, viewers, and I'll bring in Alankrita Sahay on that,
34:29was, other than the ultimate price, the ultimate insult.
34:34Because outside, as fans in a stampede were crushed, their bodies being taken away one by one,
34:4225 injured till now, 11 dead till now, inside, the show went on.
34:47The felicitations ceremony went on.
34:50Alankrita Sahay is with me.
34:52Alankrita, what was to be a moment of celebration turned out to be a moment of great, great tragedy.
35:00Indeed, I would say I'm falling short of words to express my discord for this particular management.
35:13And the way, you know, I think jaan hai to jahan hai.
35:17And the first and foremost thing that I think any organization, committee, management, the BCP,
35:23they need to understand that when after 18 years you're bringing a cup home,
35:28the density of population and the people involved who will show up for your people are going to be immense.
35:36So I, as a citizen or an individual, watching this news, watching that a victory turned into a vicious stampede,
35:45has caused a gruesome inconvenience to not just the janta but to the government.
35:51Madam, allow me to interrupt you and I apologize.
35:54The reason I'm doing so is I just want to cut across to the former Karnataka Chief Minister, D.B. Sadanand Gowda,
35:59who's joining us on the phone line right now.
36:02Mr. Gowda, would you, your first reactions, 11 dead today, 25 injured,
36:08what was to be a celebration, one of the biggest tragedies.
36:11Go ahead, sir.
36:12Yeah, certainly, certainly, it is quite unfortunate and practically the stampede.
36:20Everybody, everybody thinks that this is due to the irresponsible behavior of the citizens.
36:28And it is not like that.
36:30See, after 18 years, we got the cup.
36:33And since the last four, five, six days, the Karnataka people, especially people in Bangalore,
36:40they were mad to receive these RCB players.
36:46And even all the political parties were praying, God, that we should get this.
36:51So in depth and in person, everybody prayed for it and everybody was eager to receive.
36:59So is it not the responsibility of the government, even the chief minister wished, even the deputy
37:05chief minister wished?
37:06That means they should apprehend that some huge gathering will be there.
37:12And we should take proper care as far as the receiving of the players are concerned.
37:19But this is the utterly irresponsible behavior of the Karnataka government.
37:24We lost the lives of 11 people at present and a few more are in the ICU also.
37:31But, you know, Mr. Sadanan Gauda, you're very right that accountability needs to be fixed and should be fixed.
37:36So the other question I asked you, sir, what was even a deeper insult today was the sheer fact,
37:42while there was a stampede that was taking place outside, the show went on inside the Chinnaswami Stadium.
37:48And that is not limited to just the Karnataka government, that's limited to the BCCI, it's limited to the IPL,
37:55and it's limited to the franchise as well.
37:57Everyone is responsible for snubbing the people of Karnataka who had come to the stadium to honor them.
38:05Ma'am, I do concede that the irresponsible behavior and irresponsible responsibility that has been,
38:15that ought to have been taken by the Chinnaswami Stadium and the BCCI.
38:22They ought to have taken care, they have handled this situation along with the state government.
38:30Both these people are so irresponsible.
38:34And even predictions where there are 5000 police have been deputed, they are telling what those people, 5000 police were doing.
38:44I don't know whether there was any plan to control the situation or whether they left as it is and they too were enjoying the situation.
38:56This is a really, really very sad affair of the state government.
39:02So one final question that I'll ask you, Mr Gowda, because you yourself have been the former Karnataka Chief Minister.
39:07Do you, because your party today, which is the BJP, you represent the Bharatiya Janata Party today,
39:12is asking for the resignation of the Karnataka Chief Minister.
39:15Do you also ask for that resignation, sir? Because if you ask for that resignation,
39:19then you should have also asked for the resignation of the various Chief Ministers from the BJP government,
39:25where stampedes have taken place and it was only a month ago it took place in Goa.
39:30No, we can't compare the stampede that has happened today and the other stampede in other parts of the country.
39:37This was expected and this was an occasion, this is an occasion to enjoy the cup that has received every RCB.
39:48And weeks together, all the people used to pray God that we should get the cup.
39:55So there was an enthusiasm in each and every man in Bangalore to see our players who received the cup after 18 years.
40:04Okay.
40:05I am, I am, certainly, certainly, so motto the Chief Minister should resign.
40:11Okay.
40:12So motto the Deputy Chief Minister should hold the responsibility.
40:15See, today, even after the stampede, the Deputy Chief Minister was there on the stage, they were continuing theâŠ
40:24Right.
40:25Fair point.
40:26Fair point.
40:27You shouldâŠ
40:28Yeah.
40:29It should not have happened as soon asâŠ
40:30Fair point.
40:31And each and every person, like I said, those visuals will not age well.
40:34It's something that I would reckon the Deputy Chief Minister will and should regret.
40:39But appreciate you joining us, Mr. Goa, though you did say that those occasions were different,
40:44but the largest human gathering on earth, I think the crowds are expected in a Kumbh and it happened there.
40:49But on the contrary, many would also say that look how the government then managed the largest human gathering at the Kumbh with one stampede
40:57and look what the Karnataka government didn't do.
40:59So the politics will take place.
41:01But viewers, ultimately, will heads roll?
41:04That's the big question.
41:05It didn't happen in other states.
41:07Will it happen now?
41:08Thank you, Mr. Goa, for joining us.
41:10Let's move on to news break that's coming in and we also have Nikhil Naz who's joining us in a short while,
41:15my colleague on ground in Bengaluru.
41:17The Prime Minister has condoled the death of the Bengaluru stampede.
41:20Mishap in Bengaluru absolutely heart-wending in this tragic hour.
41:24My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones.
41:27I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery.
41:30That's the Prime Minister tweeting out for using the platform X.
41:35Showing empathy, sympathy for those who have died in this monstrous stampede that took place today at the Chinnaswami Stadium.
41:46I want to cut across right now to Nikhil Naz.
41:49That's the sad part and the irony of it all, Nikhil.
41:52Because yesterday we were in the studio at the same time what one thought would be celebrations at the end of the day.
41:58Glory in sport to be celebrated today of where you stand and what turned around was absolutely tragic, Nikhil.
42:04That's right, Preeti. I think on a single day I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly.
42:13The good of course, you know, the spirit of people in Bengaluru turning up in large numbers to chair their team that had won a title.
42:20The bad was that majority of those fans did not get a chance to catch a glimpse of their favourite players because of how badly managed it was.
42:29And the ugly was actually seeing people that had fainted being carried off by security personnel in their hands because there were no ambulances on standby to take them to hospitals.
42:42We saw that up close. In fact, me and my camera person were in the middle of the stampede when it happened.
42:47It happened right outside the Chinnaswami Stadium, outside the Caban Park metro station.
42:51And we were also trying to make our way through and it started with a bunch of fans celebrating on one side,
42:57the other bunch trying to get to the other side to get a chance to get inside the gates.
43:01And in all that commotion, we did see a lot of people, you know, succumb to the stampede, especially women and young kids.
43:10The one image that stays with me is of a young girl no older than 15 years.
43:16She was being carried out by three security personnel because there were two ambulances on standby inside the stadium.
43:22But because the people that had fainted, the number of people that had fainted had been large in numbers.
43:27So the ambulances had taken them out and then there were no ambulances available.
43:32So three security, private security personnel were lifting that girl up and running on the road
43:38because right outside the Chinnaswami Stadium, no cars could come because the crowds had gathered.
43:43So there was no possibility of getting a private vehicle in also instead of an ambulance.
43:47So they actually ran about 500 meters to the main road where there was regular traffic running
43:52and then tried to request people to take the girl to the hospital.
43:56But what I heard later from the organizers that it was too late.
44:00So she's one of those victims of the stampede.
44:03So as I said, I mean, it was going to be a day.
44:05I have somebody with me, a girl who went there and she was talking to me.
44:10She wanted to narrate the ordeal that she went through as a woman, as a fan of Royal Challengers Bengaluru,
44:16trying to get inside the stadium. What did you experience?
44:19So basically when it started, it was a moment of celebration and we were really excited to see the players
44:25and what's going to happen inside.
44:27But as soon as we reached, it was less more of celebration and more fear for girls.
44:32So we literally couldn't even enter and even after entering, after a lot of struggle,
44:36we could just see being pushed here and there and there was no respect.
44:40So and we couldn't see any police people around us or anywhere where we could actually go to ask for help.
44:46So we just have to find a way and the metros were closed.
44:49We couldn't rush back or anything. We were pushed, literally pushed.
44:53Somehow I think most of us managed to come out of it.
44:57And right now we are glad that we didn't see the players inside.
45:00We just saved our lives and we didn't actually be part of that celebration inside.
45:06Because after we reached inside, it would be even worse to get out of that.
45:09What did you see outside? Did you see young kids, young girls?
45:12Yeah, we see this. Kids were not even seen in that crowd.
45:17Parents were literally finding their kids.
45:20Seniors were running away that we don't want to be part of this.
45:24Please let us go out.
45:25But the youth were just in the fun that we just want to see the players.
45:30They literally didn't care what's happening.
45:32Or we should just rescue them or help them out.
45:35We could see people climbing the trees, climbing the towers.
45:39No one was bothered.
45:40Players became the only thing in their mind and the celebration.
45:44But it was really bad.
45:46We wish that this never happened.
45:49The rally or the parade never took place.
45:52And it was as normal as usually when the RCB wins.
45:57Imagine, imagine.
45:58Now these are those fans that waited 18 years for a team to win.
46:01But you heard from this young girl saying,
46:03Now she wishes it never happened.
46:04This parade did not take place.
46:06I'll just mention a couple more points, Preeti, that I did experience.
46:09There were entry from about 12-13 gates you could enter.
46:13But the number of security personnel were very less.
46:15Now what usually happens during a game, you have the barricading.
46:18There are entry points.
46:19You have to show your tickets.
46:20None of that was there this time.
46:22Maybe because, you know, there was no game.
46:24And they did not prepare themselves like that.
46:26And the other thing is, during a game, the capacity is about 30,000.
46:29So only people with tickets turn up here.
46:31Because there was no sort of communication as to who can come in.
46:34People thought it was first come first bases.
46:36So any number of people could be allowed in.
46:39So three, four, five times the capacity that can really be handled by the security personnel
46:45or the stadium staff turned up at the ground.
46:48And that's why you had a situation where there was stampede where people were trying to get in no matter from whichever corner.
46:54And I must also tell you, I was, you know, lucky enough to escape the stampede.
46:59We were also lucky enough to enter from a VIP gate.
47:01Rest of the gates, roughly, and I did see regular gates, there may have been 10 to 15 police personnel.
47:07But each gate, there were about 10, 15,000 people trying to get in and only 10 odd police personnel manning those gates.
47:15But the VIP gate, where there was hardly anybody trying to get in.
47:18We were lucky enough to get in from the VIP gate.
47:20That had more than 100 police personnel ensuring that VIP cars are allowed in without any hindrance.
47:26So that is how the security was also spread out on the day.
47:29Right.
47:30You know, I want you to stay on with me, Nikhil.
47:31First up, you know, we're really glad, you know, that you and your camera person are fine.
47:35It's tragic of the story that you related of the young 15-year-old because sometimes as reporters,
47:41we bear testimony to the most heart-rending scenes and then we carry it for the rest of our lives.
47:46So I'm sorry for what you saw.
47:47We're sorry for that loss of that 15-year-old child.
47:50But stay with me.
47:51I'm going to come right back to you, Nikhil, because you want to speak a little more about
47:54why did the show just continue inside when people were dying outside?
47:58I want to come back to you.
47:59There's a news break that's coming in.
48:01The Prime Minister was tweeted, but as well as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, I believe, has tweeted,
48:08using the Platform X.
48:15This is the tweet of the Prime Minister saying that,
48:18I pray for the injured and the injured have a speedy recovery.
48:22Condolences to the dead.
48:24Let's move on now.
48:25The news break coming in from the Chief Minister of Karnataka who has also used the Platform X.
48:32Alright.
48:33While we continue to play out the news break that is coming in,
48:36first reaction from the Karnataka Chief Minister on the stampede,
48:41saying it is with great shock that we heard the news that several people lost their lives
48:45and others were seriously injured in a stampede during the RCB team's victory celebration
48:50at the Chinnaswami Stadium.
48:52The pain of this tragedy has even erased the joy of victory.
48:56May the soul of the deceased rest in peace.
48:58And those injured and those undergoing treatment in the hospital recover as soon as possible.
49:03My condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones.
49:07The team was not allowed to march on the victory parade in anticipation of an unpleasant incident
49:12that could occur due to such a stampede and the crowd becoming uncontrollable.
49:17However, the accident occurred due to a stampede and a stampede that occurred due to the crowds of people gathered near the stadium.
49:25I appeal to the public to understand that life is more important than love and affection and to give safety first priority.
49:34The words coming in from the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. Sidharamaya.
49:39Viyoz, let's quickly dip in to the ground report filed by my colleague Sagai Raj
49:45and I want to go back to Nikhil after that. Let's quickly listen in.
49:48The night of the warj because it has saddened the moment and said its' worst dari the situation in the hospital the people who areÄ and people who have put it in the hospital.
50:01And then it got paid for the hospital and the people who have put it to the hospital.
50:05If you don't know, that's a huge percentage of the people who have put it to the hospital.
50:09This becomes continued to pour in.
50:15continue to pour in. I want to go back to my colleague Nikhil Nas, who was practically
50:20witness to the stampede relating such incidents that he did. But Nikhil, I want to bring you
50:24back into the conversation and the question that I want to ask. We continue to play what
50:28the Chief Minister of Karnataka stated, Mr. Sidharamaya, practically suggesting that it's
50:34not that the administration and the state government did not factor in the kind of groundsware
50:40that could have happened, especially after last night's celebrations where he said that
50:45that is why the reason that the victory parade was cancelled, the stampede didn't happen inside
50:50the stadium, it happened close to the stadium, urging people to put safety first, then love
50:56and affection as fans. I want to bring Nikhil back into this conversation. And Nikhil, just
51:00give us a bit of perspective because, you know, standing on the outside as a journalist, one
51:05would think that there was a complete disconnect, complete lack of empathy, because inside the
51:09show continued with the franchise, the players being felicitated, and outside, the fans who
51:16actually have the maximum skin on the game are paying the ultimate price.
51:24That's right. There was this disconnect, definitely, Preeti, while the ceremony was happening. And
51:29I think the franchise, that is, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were aware of that, which is why the
51:36ceremony, which I was told was going to go on for about two hours, lasted only about 20 minutes. So,
51:42it took time for the team to get there, that open bus parade that they were planning to have, that
51:50permission was denied, because they said at that last moment, it probably will not be possible. Once the
51:55team reached there, they came in, it was a very short ceremony, with just a couple of players talking, and then they
52:01took a round with their trophy, and the players went back. As I said, there were a few cultural performances
52:06that had been planned, all of that was cancelled, and I think the news was still filtering in. I don't think they had the real
52:12number of deaths at that time. At that time, it was only being reported that some people have been taken to
52:18hospital, so they were in a catch-22 situation. But I think, you know, speaking to the organizers, they thought that so many people have
52:24turned in, they are sitting inside the stadium, so they must at least, you know, show them the trophy, at least do a
52:29trophy lap, and just a few words from the main players, that is the captain and Virat Kohli, and that's what they
52:34restricted themselves to. It's probably after that ceremony got over, did the news start filtering in of how many people have
52:41actually died. So, that is something that did happen. On the other count, you said, yes, the stampede did not happen inside the
52:48stadium. That's absolutely correct, because they did not allow any more people that can be accommodated inside the
52:53stadium to come in. So, on that part, they are right. But it happened right outside the stadium. I'll give you an
52:59example. You know, let's take, I went to a FIFA World Cup a couple of years ago in Qatar. On the final day, you had
53:07overwhelming crowds turn up from across the globe to watch that final. It was played in Qatar, a small place. Metro was
53:14overwhelmed. There were more people that could be accommodated in Metro. People wanted to take the Metro to reach the
53:19stadium. And what I saw there is that there was security person at every Metro station, ensuring that only limited
53:26people are allowed to get inside the Metro. When they come out, there were these points where security
53:31person would then allow you to form a line and then go towards the stadium. See, that's how you actually
53:36plan for a day where you're going to have a crowdswell. None of that planning had happened. As I suspect, the
53:42planning may have been, okay, this is another match day. Let's plan for a match day. But as I said, on a match day, you have
53:47about only 30,000 people turn up because they're the ones with the ticket. Today, nobody knew how many
53:53people will be allowed. Everyone who came here thought that he'll be allowed to get inside the
53:56stadium. There may have been about 200,000 people that turned up and you were clearly not ready for
54:01that. Well, thank you, Nikhil, for joining us and a sad day, a tragic day for cricket and especially with
54:08what went inside the stadium and what went outside. A dystopian view of how we view life so cheap.
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