BCCI saddened but denies any role in Bengaluru stampede

The maiden IPL trophy win by RCB after a wait of 18 long years was undoubtedly a feat to celebrate. However, no celebration is worth the lives of innocents. The celebration of the RCB team at the Chinnaswamy Stadium swiftly took a dangerous turn on Wednesday. With a management lapse, a stampede took shape around the venue as the team arrived with the much-awaited trophy. Meanwhile, as the team and the officials enjoyed their sweet victory, people outside lost lives. Eleven have been reported dead, while the toll of injured individuals keeps rising by the minute. Now, with the disheartening news reaching nooks and corners of the nation, the BCCI has come up with a statement.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia expresses grief as RCB's victory celebration turns deadly in Bengaluru

The BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, denied any role of the board in facilitating the ceremony for the team. However, taking note of the gravity of the situation, the chair ensured the board would meddle with such plans henceforth to ensure that an unfortunate accident like the Bengaluru stampede doesn't happen again. Earlier in the day, RCB announced a victory parade for the team following their maiden title victory in the IPL 2025 final. However, after a little while, it was informed that the parade was canceled due to the scare of traffic congestion.

However, the cancellation of the parade did not deter the passionate RCB fans in Bengaluru from following the team around the city. While the parade was canceled, the felicitation ceremony of the team at the Chinnaswamy Stadium commenced as planned. With the team still scheduled to arrive at the venue, a mob of thousands gathered, demanding entry into the official event. With the frenzied fans proving difficult to handle, the Bengaluru Police reportedly also resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. However, the situation grew increasingly dangerous, leading to the loss of multiple lives.

Meanwhile, with hundreds in the crowd fighting for their lives, the officials inside Chinnaswamy continued their celebration. The management has landed under fire for the unfortunate mishap. The state failed to gauge the facilities required to conduct such a procession. Many sit at the targets of the disheartened fans as the death toll in the Bengaluru stampede has reached 11. Meanwhile, the BCCI has denied any role in organising the event for the franchise.

"I am just not shocked but disgraced by this incident. This event of tragedy that has happened in the victory celebrations in Bengaluru today. It was such a wonderful and colourful closing of the IPL. It's really shocking for us. We are really frustrated to hear this kind of news, and we are extremely sorry. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all the members of the bereaved families, and we also pray that whoever is injured will recover at the earliest," the BCCI secretary said. 

"We hope good sense will prevail, and in future, whoever organises such events will follow the necessary protocols after having proper due diligence. The authorities are responsible for such celebrations. After the IPL is over, BCCI directly has no role to play," he added.

The BCCI secretary further mentioned the failure of the organisers to take the needed protocols in the short span of time allotted to plan the event. Saikia cited the victory parade of 2024 to highlight how such processions need to be thoroughly planned. Following India’s historic win at the T20 World Cup last year, the winning squad conducted a victory parade in Mumbai and assembled at the Wankhede Stadium for a ceremony. Thankfully, despite thousands of fans attending the open-bus parade, no unfortunate incidents like the Bengaluru stampede were reported.

“Whenever BCCI or any cricket association organises this kind of event, like yesterday, also in Ahmedabad, where 1.3 lakh fans assembled in that stadium, you always take precautions, and there is proper planning with the district authorities and police. So that when there is a gathering of a huge number of people, certain protocols are to be maintained to ensure that no situation like this happens."

"For example, take last year’s World Cup-winning celebration in Mumbai after the T20 World Cup was won by India in the West Indies. There was proper planning by the BCCI. Despite so many people, not a single unfortunate incident happened because everything was done in a very systematic and disciplined manner,” he added.