The accounts from witnesses paint a picture of poor planning, and inadequate crowd control, that turned what should have been a joyous event into a catastrophe.
Published Jun 05, 2025 | 8:12 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 05, 2025 | 8:12 PM
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwar visited Bowring and Victoria Hospitals and inquired about the well-being of those injured in the stampede.
Synopsis: What was meant to be a joyful public celebration outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium turned tragic when a stampede claimed the lives of eleven young people. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and panic, citing poor crowd control as thousands surged through narrow gates.
What was meant to be a jubilant night of celebration turned into a nightmare outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, where 11 people – all of them under 30 years of age – lost their lives in a deadly stampede.
As Karnataka continues to grapple with shock and grief, several eyewitnesses who were at the venue that evening have come forward to recount the events as they unfolded.
A young girl who survived the chaos described the scene in detail.
“In the crowds, parents were literally searching to find their kids. Seniors were running away to not be a part of this. The youth were just having fun… waiting to see the players and not bothered about what was happening around them,” she said.
“We could see people climbing trees. For many, the players and celebrations were all that mattered. It was really bad. People from all directions began pushing. Most of the police were inside. People started to jump over the barricades to get in.”
The accounts from witnesses paint a picture of poor planning, inadequate crowd control, and misplaced priorities that turned what should have been a joyous event into a catastrophe.
“The barricades that were placed fell and many were trapped beneath it. We tried to help, but it was difficult,” an attendee said.
Notably, the situation reportedly escalated within seconds, once the stadium gates were opened.
“We came to take part in the celebrations. The moment they opened the gates to let people inside, everyone started to rush in,” another eyewitness told South First.
“People from all directions began pushing. Most of the police were inside. People started to jump over the barricades to get in.”
Among the lives lost was 23-year-old Sahana, a recently hired software developer.
Her neighbour, still in disbelief, told reporters, “This is truly a tragic incident. Her parents, Suresha and Manjula, worked so hard to educate her. How will they manage this pain? Who is responsible for this? Eleven innocent people have died. All of them were young. At least in the coming days, the government must take precautions to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
The grief of the bereaved families is overwhelming.
The father of a young boy who died in the stampede spoke through tears: “The Home Minister came and went. We have only one child. Give me my child back. I don’t want a postmortem. Whatever has happened has happened. Just send my son back to me. I cannot live without him. For 22 years, I have raised him. But because of you all, he is dead today.”
Another attendee narrated the utter confusion around the stadium. “We got down near Vidhana Soudha. The traffic was terrible. We had passes but couldn’t even get close to the venue because of the crowds. The police were around but clearly overwhelmed and unable to control the situation.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
