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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday appealed to the public to remain calm and not panic after a stampede occurred during a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) celebration event, where a massive crowd gathered outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
He spoke to the Police Commissioner and other officials to ensure that the situation is under control. The Karnataka Dy CM will also be visiting the hospital later to assess the situation. The program was shortened and ended within 10 minutes due to the large crowd. "I have spoken to the Police Commissioner and everyone. I will also go to the hospital later. I do not want to disturb the doctors who are taking care of the patients. The exact number cannot be told now. We appeal to the people to remain calm. We shortened the program. The program ended within 10 minutes. We are trying to make everything normal...Lakhs of people came," he said. https://x.com/DKShivakumar/status/1930247863143141527?t=BgXAvE5dhwtLvHnkt1-mPg&s=08 In an X post, he further expressed condolences for the tragedy, which occurred during celebrations for RCB's IPL victory celebrations, and appealed for people to prioritise safety. DK Shivkumar wrote, "People who were supposed to witness RCB's IPL victory celebrations. The tragedy and death have brought deep pain and shock. My condolences to the deceased. My condolences to their family. Let there be pride, but not bigger than life. I appeal to everyone to please stay safe." Responding to BJP's allegations, Shivakumar dismissed them, emphasizing his focus on public safety, he stated, " They are there to allege and we are there to protect...yes, I am going to the hospital..." Opposition parties in the state, including the Janata Dal (Secular), have squarely blamed the Congress-led state government for what they describe as a complete failure of planning and public safety. BJP leader CT Ravi launched a scathing attack on the Karnataka government for the alleged deaths, calling it the state's responsibility for the stampede situation. "Unpredictable celebration... State-sponsored murder. The state government is responsible for this death," Ravi stated in a post on X. Echoing the same sentiment, JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy issued a strongly worded statement condemning the administration for the lives lost, as alleged by the JDS leader. "What was meant to be a grand celebration of RCB's long-awaited victory turned into chaos, tragedy, and loss of innocent lives. The massive turnout was expected, yet the State Government showed zero preparedness. No proper planning, no crowd management, no safety protocols -- just a desperate rush to take credit," he said. Calling the incident "criminal negligence", Kumaraswamy further alleged that six people have lost their lives during the chaos, adding, "This is not just mismanagement; this is a complete collapse of basic administration. Six lives have tragically been lost in a stampede that could have been prevented. Who takes responsibility? Once again, the Home Minister has failed in his duty to protect the people." RCB finally ended an 18-year wait for the coveted IPL trophy, defeating Punjab Kings by six wickets in the finals of IPL 2025, held on Tuesday at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (ANI)
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