While his love for agriculture was an appreciated fact, Poornachandra was also the pride of the primarily agrarian village for pursuing an education and a job.
Published Jun 11, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 11, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Poornachandra was a site manager in Mysuru.
Synopsis: BR Poornachandra died in the stampede during the victory rally of Royal Challengers Bengaluru outside the M Chinnaswamy stadium in the city. His home became the epicentre of mourning, not just for a family, but for an entire village that lost one of its brightest sons.
“He was always between people. He was like a friend to me more than a son; almost like brothers,” said BR Chandru, father of BR Poornachandra, who died in the stampede during the victory rally of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) outside the M Chinnaswamy stadium in the city — an event meant to celebrate turned into a tragedy.
Blaming himself for the untimely death of his son, the grieving father told South First, “I think it is my karma that it was my son who died among all those people. It is hard even to imagine”.
The home of Chandru and his wife — where 26-year-old Poornachandra, a site manager in Mysuru — became the epicentre of mourning, not just for a family, but for an entire village that has lost one of its brightest sons.
Dark rain clouds loomed over Rayasamudra, a quiet village near KR Pete in the Mandya district of Karnataka, as if the skies themselves were grieving. At the edge of the village, in a modest home that once echoed with laughter and life, a heavy silence now hangs thick in the air.
People gather in hushed numbers, seated on the floor, some on plastic chairs under the veranda, others just standing in silence — not a word spoken, yet volumes exchanged through glances and tears. There are no loud cries here, only a deep, quiet sorrow that seems to settle into every corner of the house.
On 4 June, 11 youngsters — barely stepping into adulthood — lost their lives in a deadly stampede during the RCB victory rally in Bengaluru. Over 10 lakh people surged into the city’s metro and rally zones — an unprecedented crowd met with shockingly little preparation. Among the chaos, barricades collapsed, people were trampled, and help was nowhere in sight.
Former Minister Narayana Gowda meeting the family.
Chandru is a teacher at a nearby school, referred to by some as ‘Master’. A well-respected individual, the villagers of Rayasamudra describe him as deeply rooted in the village and agriculture.
“Having to see my son dead has shaken me. For the last three days, I’ve been unable to do anything. We had only one son to look after us, good or bad, and now we don’t have anyone,” he stated. Although he has a daughter, she does not live near Rayasamudra. However, the married couple have stayed by her parents’ side since the incident.
Even two days later, many villagers remain at Poornachandra’s house, taking care of the family’s needs, helping them grieve,
“Despite having to teach, Master never neglects his farm, always tending to the plants there. He passed down this same love to his son as well. Seeing Master like this has moved the entire village to stand with him,” a local said.
Poornachandra’s childhood house.
While his love for agriculture was an appreciated fact, Poornachandra was also the pride of the primarily agrarian village for pursuing an education and a job.
“Like Master, Poorna also loved tending to his farm. He’d wake up early or stay back late if he had to. But he’d always put the farm first, tending to it before he left for work or college,” Lokesh, Poornachandra’s friend, told South First.
“My son did his BE Civil Diploma in Mysuru. He has been working as a site manager in Mysuru for the last six months. He was a smart child, always looking to do better,” Chandru said.
“He was a smart one, always active and ready to grab an opportunity,” Lokesh added. At 26, Poornachandra had started to work only recently, slowly beginning to contribute to the family’s expenses, something his entire community is proud of.
“We are Gowdas, Poorna’s family are Lingayats. Yet we are here for that boy’s family because of how beloved they all are in Rayasamudra,” Puttuswamy Gowda, a village elder, told South First.
“He was the first to show up when anyone needed help. He helped people across castes and communities, never thinking twice about who he was helping. He pursued education and started work as a site manager just recently. Everybody who knew him was proud of our kid. All of Rayasamudra was,” he added.
The place where BR Poornachandra’s final rites took place.
Lokesh was Poornachandra’s senior in school. However, that did not stop them from bonding. “The day Poorna passed, I was telling our friend a story about him. I asked him to be more like Poorna,” he recalled.
“He was ready to help anyone, and I think that is because he wanted to be with anyone. Whether during school or even right up to the stampede, Poorna loved surrounding himself with his friends. He was always down for an adventure and never hesitant to lend a hand when any of us were in need,” he said.
“It didn’t have to be monetary; Poorna would just show up when we were in a bad place and be with us. What more could we ask for?” he reminisced, a tear rolling down his cheek.
“I remember when all the boys planned a trip to Tirupati. I didn’t have money, and I didn’t know how I was going to say no. Poorna gave me a call before I said anything, telling me my tickets were taken care of. He said we’d just go enjoy. That was our Poorna,” he said.
Kanakaraju, his uncle.
“He was the most talented in our village. Such a good kid. He was everything to the family. I can’t imagine us living without him,” Kanakaraju, Poornachandra’s uncle, told South First.
“His parents toiled to provide him with a good life. They had also recently found a girl for Poorna to marry,” he continued. “Since that day (when Poornachandra died), the parents have not had any food. Whatever they did, they did for their son. Now that their son is not there, what do they live for?” he asked.
“On the morning of 8 June, the local authorities arrived to hand over the compensation cheque — but what use is that when they have lost their son?” he questioned.
“If we are conducting an event for a thousand people, the first thing is to have that kind of space. If we have a place for a hundred but invite a thousand, what will happen? If that’s the case, we need to make arrangements for the larger crowd; whether it is medical assistance, police or anything else,” he said, expressing his anger.
“This incident was a complete failure of the government,” he stated, his voice burning with anger.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
