Bengaluru Stampede Tragedy: Families Demand Accountability After 11 Lives Lost

A devastating stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which killed 11 people during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) recent IPL triumph, has sparked outrage among the victims’ families. The crowd had gathered to catch a glimpse of the RCB team, marking their first IPL victory in 18 years. The deceased included a young schoolgirl, a teenager in Bengaluru to retrieve his transfer certificate, an engineering student, and a civil engineer, reflecting the broad impact of the tragedy.

Among the victims was 14-year-old Divyanshi B S, a passionate cricket fan and admirer of Virat Kohli. The Yelahanka-based Class 9 student, who dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, lost her life in her quest to see her favorite player, her mother, Ashwini U L. “Her wish cost her her life,” Ashwini said, noting Divyanshi’s maturity and deep knowledge of cricket icons like Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev.

Devaraj N T, a pani puri vendor, was watching television when news of the stampede broke. He frantically called his son, Manoj Kumar, a 20-year-old BBA student at Presidency College, only to have a stranger answer. “The police summoned me to Bowring Hospital. I couldn’t face seeing my son’s body,” Devaraj recounted. Originally from Tumakuru, Manoj had joined friends at the event without informing his father. Rejecting the government’s offer of Rs 10 lakh in compensation, Devaraj said, “I’d give Rs 50 lakh, Rs 1 crore. Can they bring my son back?”

Bhoomik Lakshman, a 19-year-old from M S Ramaiah Layout, was also among the deceased. His father, Lakshman D H, told that Bhoomik had excitedly video-called his mother at 3 pm to show her the celebrations. Hours later, his family couldn’t reach him. “Proper medical facilities could have saved my son,” Lakshman said, pointing to the negligence of civic authorities and the government.

Kamakshi Devi, a 29-year-old Amazon analyst from Udumalpet, Coimbatore, was another victim. A dedicated RCB fan, she attended the event with colleagues, her cousin Veerabahu Tamizh Selvan told . Her impending marriage made her death even more heart-wrenching.

The victims’ families expressed deep frustration with the authorities, condemning the lack of proper planning and crowd control that turned a celebratory moment into a profound tragedy.