Karnataka Government Considers Relocating Cricket Stadium After Stampede Incident
Government's Response to Recent Stampede
Following the tragic stampede incident that marred the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's trophy celebration, concerns have been raised regarding crowd management by the authorities. Karnataka's Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, announced that the government is contemplating relocating the cricket stadium to prevent such occurrences in the future. In a media briefing, he expressed,
"The government will explore options to move the cricket stadium. Such unfortunate events should never happen under any administration. This incident has personally affected me and the government."
The Chinnaswamy Stadium, which can accommodate 32,000 spectators, saw an overwhelming turnout of nearly 300,000 fans eager to catch a glimpse of the players. Reports indicate that the gates, initially scheduled to open at 1:45 PM, did not open until around 3 PM, leading to chaos.
Additionally, the Chief Minister downplayed the state's involvement, stating he was merely invited to the felicitation at Vidhana Soudha. He expressed frustration at being informed about the stampede only at 5:45 PM, despite the first casualty occurring around 3:50 PM.
According to reports, CM Siddaramaiah was displeased about not receiving a warning letter from DCP MN Karibasavana Gowda regarding the scale of the event at Vidhana Soudha. This issue was discussed in a closed meeting on June 8 with senior state officials, including Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara. The meeting also addressed the state's legal strategy ahead of the Karnataka High Court hearing scheduled for June 10.
In defense of the government's actions, Siddaramaiah stated that no erroneous decisions were made and that legal measures have been initiated against those accountable. He dismissed calls for his resignation, referencing past incidents in Uttar Pradesh where similar demands were not made.
Concerns Raised by DCP Regarding Safety
Just hours before the stampede on June 4, DCP M.N. Karibasavana Gowda raised significant safety concerns in a letter to the DPAR Secretary. In response to a request for his insights, Gowda outlined ten critical points, emphasizing issues such as insufficient time for essential preparations, potential security threats, and risks to key installations associated with the felicitation event at Vidhana Soudha. The main points from his letter include:
1. If the event is held on the grand steps, a massive influx of cricket fans is expected, and there is a shortage of personnel for crowd control.
2. Distribution of passes, whether online or offline, for the felicitation at Vidhana Soudha should be halted.
3. It is likely that secretariat officials will bring family members; therefore, a half-day holiday should be declared for them, and they should be advised against attending the event.
4. Requests for CCTV installation around Vidhana Soudha have not been fulfilled, which poses a security risk.
5. An NOC from the PWD is necessary, and organizers must be informed that police should conduct security checks at least two hours prior to the event.
6. A fitness certificate must be issued by the concerned engineer for any electrical equipment used during the event.
7. Organizers must allow the anti-sabotage check squad access at least two hours before the event.
8. Given the large fan base of RCB, additional police personnel from outside the city will be required, which necessitates time for arrangements.
9. Coordination between law enforcement and traffic police is essential for managing such a large event, and time is limited.
10. There is a possibility of drone usage during the event, necessitating anti-drone systems.