After the tragic stampede-like incident that left seven dead and several injured during the RCB IPL 2025 victory celebration outside Chinnaswamy Stadium, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar issued a public apology. However, the Karnataka Congress chief went on to say that he would not blame the administration and their administration was the best.
'I Apologise': Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
In a statement to PTI, Shivakumar said: "We are very proud of RCB and Karnataka. 18 years, a long struggle. Kohli's loyalty has paid royalty... I think this is not a controllable crowd. I apologise to all the people of Bengaluru and Karnataka, we wanted to take a procession, but the crowd is uncontrollable."
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Shivakumar said that there was no information about deaths during RCB celebrations in Bengaluru. "Will inform as soon as we get information. This was a young and energetic crowd, we cannot use lathis. I will not blame the administration, our administration is the best," he said.
Bengaluru Stampede
Chaos unfolded at the felicitation venue as an overwhelming crowd of fans surged in triggering a stampede-like situation. Eyewitnesses described how the police struggled to contain the mass of people with visuals showing injured individuals being rushed to nearby hospitals in ambulances. Some who had collapsed were seen receiving CPR from bystanders, according to PTI.