Karnataka High Court Demands Report on Deadly Stampede at Cricket Celebration

Court Orders Investigation into Tragic Incident

In Bengaluru, the Karnataka High Court has instructed the state government to submit a status report regarding the tragic stampede that occurred outside a cricket stadium, resulting in 11 fatalities and over 50 injuries.

The court took notice of the incident on its own initiative and has requested a comprehensive report by June 10.

A division bench led by Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice C M Joshi has classified this case as a public interest litigation.

The stampede took place during the IPL victory celebration for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on June 4, leading to the tragic loss of life and numerous injuries.

During the proceedings, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty explained that the announcement of free entry to the stadium caused an overwhelming rush at the gates, which triggered the stampede.

He emphasized that the government is not looking to assign blame but rather to understand the failures that led to this disaster and to prevent future occurrences.

Shetty noted that the celebrations attracted over 250,000 attendees, far exceeding the stadium's capacity of 30,000, which contributed to the chaos outside Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The bench remarked that large public gatherings should adhere to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including the availability of ambulances and clear information about nearby hospitals.

The Advocate General acknowledged that while ambulances were present, their numbers were insufficient for such a large-scale emergency.

He also informed the court that a magisterial inquiry is underway and is expected to conclude within 15 days, focusing on the three gates where the fatalities and injuries occurred.

The state is treating this incident with the utmost seriousness, and notices have been issued to all relevant parties, including the event management team, to investigate potential lapses.

Shetty highlighted that the Chief Minister's initial public statement addressed compensation for the victims' families and emphasized the need to review SOPs to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

A public notice has been released by the inquiry officer, inviting anyone with pertinent information to come forward, assuring that testimonies will be recorded and submitted to the court transparently.

Advocate Lohith, who filed a public interest litigation, raised several questions regarding the event's authorization, the government's responsibilities, and the crowd control measures that were implemented.

Advocate G R Mohan pointed out that the announcement for free entry was made by an IPL franchise representative, and despite the large crowd, only three gates were open, causing significant congestion.

Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam suggested that an independent agency be appointed to ensure an unbiased investigation.

The bench concluded the hearing by stating it would outline the necessary details for the status report and scheduled the next hearing for June 10.