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Key Points

A devastating stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebration claimed 11 lives near Chinnaswamy Stadium. Former cricketer Atul Wassan spoke candidly about the tragedy, emphasizing the fan frenzy and marketing dynamics behind such events. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced compensation for victims' families and promised free medical treatment for the injured. The incident raises serious questions about crowd management and event safety during high-profile sports celebrations.

Key Points: Atul Wassan Breaks Silence on Bengaluru IPL Stampede Tragedy

  • 11 people died during RCB's victory celebration near Chinnaswamy Stadium
  • Siddaramaiah announces Rs 10 lakh compensation for victims' families
  • Wassan blames marketing and fan hysteria for the incident
  • Players unaware of the tragic stampede
3 min read

This is very sad: Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan on Bengaluru stampede

Former cricketer Atul Wassan reflects on the devastating Bengaluru stampede during RCB's IPL celebration, highlighting fan frenzy and player innocence

"I cannot believe in a million years that Virat Kohli knew that people were dying outside - Atul Wassan"

Gurugram June 5

Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan has expressed his grief at the deaths of 11 people in a stampede on Wednesday near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

"This is very sad", he said. "It's tragic, it just transpired in front of my eyes... I saw that relief on Virat's face, the kind of traction, and the kind of wanting for this IPL trophy. I think the fans bought into this story of Virat Kohli, and it was such a big thing. I think the fans went crazy. It was made to look even bigger than India winning the World Cup, which was crazy for me. This is good marketing by the franchisees and IPL...You can't blame the politicians because getting this many people together in a rally was a wet dream come true," Atul Wassan told ANI.

https://x.com/ANI/status/1930340862933762265

The incident occurred on Wednesday during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL winning celebrations near the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium when thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite players.

Wassan also believed that Virat Kohli was unaware of the tragic incident near the Chinnaswamy Stadium while the felicitation was taking place inside.

"They would have to pay for so many meals, probably give sarees away, and this was free for all. For the franchisees, it was free publicity because they had to sell the slots next year. Now that the team has won, they've got to raise the rates. The players have no role to play. The players were doing it for the fans because they thought the fans had been with them for 18 years, and they wanted to be next to the fans. So they were giving it back to the fans. There was no advantage or benefit for the players in it. When I say the players, it's Virat. Virat Kohli was paying it back to the fans in today's celebrations. I cannot believe in a million years that Virat Kohli knew that people were dying outside and the felicitation was going inside," he added.

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that 11 people died in the incident while 33 others were injured.CM Siddaramaiah said that the government will also provide free treatment to the injured.

"A major tragedy occurred during the victory celebrations. It happened near the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased. The government will provide free treatment to the injured," the CM said.

Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, CM Siddaramaiah said, "11 died and 33 were injured in the stampede. This tragedy should not have happened. The government expresses deep sorrow over this incident."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
Heartbreaking tragedy! 😢 While we celebrate cricket, we must prioritize crowd management. Stadium authorities should have anticipated this - RCB's fan following is legendary. Hope the injured recover soon and families find strength. #BengaluruStampede
R
Rahul S.
Why is no one talking about the lack of proper barricades? I was there and saw police struggling with crowd control. IPL organizers make crores, can't they invest in better safety measures? This was completely preventable.
A
Ananya M.
As a Bengaluru resident, this pains me deeply. Our city's infrastructure can't handle such massive gatherings. The government compensation is good, but what about long-term solutions? Need better urban planning for events.
V
Vikram P.
Wassan makes valid points about commercialization of IPL, but tragic incidents like this show our collective madness for cricket. 11 lives lost for what? A trophy celebration? We need to rethink our priorities as a society.
S
Sanjay T.
The CM's response was swift with compensation, but accountability matters more. Heads should roll - either police commissioner or event organizers. We can't normalize stampedes at every big event. #EnoughIsEnough
N
Neha R.
While the tragedy is undeniable, let's not blame the players. As Wassan said, they were just appreciating fans. The fault lies with organizers and authorities who failed in crowd management. Prayers for the victims 🙏

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