Bengaluru Stampede Hearing: Over 1,000 Cops Deployed For RCB Event, Govt Tells Karnataka HC

Bengaluru Stampede Hearing: The AG told Karnataka HC that 250,000 people gathered for a stadium with 30,000 capacity, and a "free entry" announcement caused a fatal surge.

The bench has reportedly directed the state government to submit a comprehensive report.

Source : PTI

Bengaluru Stampede Hearing: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday initiated proceedings into the tragic stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium that left 11 dead and dozens injured, after taking suo motu cognisance of the incident earlier in the day. The bench has reportedly directed the state government to submit a comprehensive report. The Karnataka government also reportedly informed the court that 1,000 police personnel were deployed at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, as per a report on India Today. 

The case is currently being heard by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice C M Joshi. Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty presented arguments on behalf of the state government.

During the hearing, the AG informed the court that an estimated 2.5 lakh people had gathered around the stadium which has a seating capacity of just 30,000, according to Live Law. He stated that the stampede ensued after the announcement of ‘free entry’ triggered an uncontrollable surge, with many wrongly assuming their individual presence wouldn’t overwhelm the system.

The government lawyer said that they are investigating this matter so that they can find out where the mistake happened.

Further, he said that SOP should be prepared for such cases. He also said that efforts are being made to ensure that such an incident do not occur again in the future.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, to be led by the Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner.

(More details awaited)