 "Teenage RCB fans, a young techie on leave: Who are the victims of Bengaluru stampede?")
It was a moment of joy, of cheer for fans of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who had finally witnessed history. After 18 long years of heartbreak and near misses, RCB lifted their maiden IPL trophy — and the city erupted in celebration.
But the euphoria didn’t last.
Just hours after the victory, what was meant to be a celebration parade at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday turned into a nightmare. As thousands of fans, many of them young, hopeful, and draped in red and gold, gathered to catch a glimpse of their heroes, the crowd swelled out of control.
In the chaos that followed, 11 people lost their lives, and at least 47 others were injured in a devastating stampede-like rush. Among the victims were teenagers, students, and young ardent supporters who had simply come to be part of a celebration.
Here’s what we know about them.
Bhumik: A 19-year-old who wanted to take pictures for social media
Bhumik, a 19-year-old first-year engineering student, was among those who tragically lost their lives. According to The New Indian Express, he had come with a large group of friends to the stadium but got separated in the crowd.
When his friends finally found him, he had already collapsed. They attempted CPR and searched for ambulances, but found none nearby. “There were no ambulances in sight. Even the police didn’t know what to do,” one of his friends told the newspaper. Eventually, the police took him in a jeep to Vydehi Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Bhumik’s family was inconsolable. Speaking to the news outlet, his mother said, “I kept telling him not to go. Now even if I shout his name, he won’t come back like he used to.”
His father added, “Ministers will come and go. But who will bring back my son now? If something had been done before organising all this, maybe he would have been saved.”
Divyanshi: A schoolgirl who was celebrating with her family
Divyanshi, a 14-year-old schoolgirl from Kannuru in Bengaluru, had gone to the event with her mother, aunt, and other family members. The tragedy unfolded while they waited near the stadium gates.
Her grandfather, Lakshmi Narayan, told The News Minute, “I got a call from them in the afternoon. I told them to be careful. I don’t know what happened at the gate. I was at home when it happened. I came here as soon as I heard.” Divyanshi was taken to Bowring Hospital, where she lost her life.
Her aunt expressed anger over the lack of safety and medical facilities at the event. “There was no police presence at the stadium. There was no one to provide CPR or anything. We put her in a car and took her to the hospital,” she said, adding, “There was so much police protection when the CM came, but nothing at the stadium.”
According to IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, officials inside the stadium weren’t aware of what was happening outside. “They assured me they will wrap it up inside. It is very sad and tragic. Heartfelt condolences…We are not even aware of whether someone has planned this event—how come such a huge crowd came to the stadium?” he was quoted by NDTV as saying_._
Sahana: A techie who took leave to celebrate RCB’s victory
Sahana, 21, was a software developer and a native of Kolar. As reported by The New Indian Express, she had taken leave from work and arrived at the parade with a group of colleagues.
She was pushed and fell during the rush and was separated from her friends. The Cubbon Park police later informed her friends that she had been taken to Vydehi Hospital. But until 8 pm, her parents had no information. Her friends were eventually told she had been brought in dead.
Eyewitnesses told news outlets that confusion arose when people were suddenly instructed to download an app to access free passes.
Mahesh, one such witness, said, “There was no prior information, and many were left struggling with poor mobile networks. The announcement came just minutes before the gates were opened and the crowd kept increasing.”
“As the gates opened, people rushed in, and those who couldn’t get their passes on time started jumping over barricades, triggering panic and a stampede-like situation,” he added.
Manoj: Son of pani-puri vendor trampled under the crowd
Manoj Kumar, a student at Presidency College in north Bengaluru, had gone to the stadium with three friends from his neighbourhood.
In the chaos, they lost sight of him. His death was later confirmed by Md Hussain, 24, an eyewitness who had helped transport Manoj to Bowring Hospital and had his mobile phone.
Hussain, an MBA student, told The Indian Express, “Around 3.35 pm, the crowd which was waiting outside gate number 20 of the Chinnaswamy Stadium for over an hour became restless. When the gate was opened a bit for checking, the crowd pushed through. There were only three policemen and a few stadium security guards.”
He added, “This person’s leg got stuck in a police barricade and he fell… some 500 people trampled over him. With police support, we had to fight with the crowd for two hours to get his body out of the stadium. It took another hour to take him to hospital.”
Kumar’s father, a pani-puri seller, is devastated by the loss of his 18-year-old son. “I did not allow him to clean the plates at my pani puri shop because I wanted him to go to college. I brought him up with a lot of care. Now, he is gone," he said.
Devi: A solo fan from Tamil Nadu
Devi, 29, hailed from Tamil Nadu and worked at a private firm in Bengaluru. She had gone alone to the stadium, where hundreds of thousands of fans had gathered.
One of Devi’s colleagues told The Indian Express, “We were trying to call her for a long time after hearing of the stampede… someone answered and asked us to come to the hospital.” Unfortunately, Devi had succumbed to her injuries.
Poorna Chandra: An RCB fan from Mandya
Another victim, 25-year-old Poorna Chandra, was from Mandya district. A family friend told The New Indian Express, “In videos on social media, we saw people trying to revive him… and informed his family.”
His body was later located at Vydehi Hospital.
Dr Humera, the medical administrator at Vydehi Hospital, told The New Indian Express that most of the victims were young, between 20 to 30 years old. She confirmed that the likely cause of death in many cases was suffocation due to the stampede.
She added that 12 injured patients were in stable condition and receiving outpatient treatment for injuries such as leg pain, toe injuries and a minor head injury.
Other victims
The other identified victims so far include Doresha (32), Prajwal (22), Akshata (27), Shravan (20), Shivalinga (17), and Chinmayi (19). While many of them were from Bengaluru, some had travelled from other districts to be part of the celebrations.
Karnataka CM announces ex gratia, probe ordered
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the 11 victims. He also assured free medical treatment for all 33 injured individuals.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to investigate the circumstances that led to the tragic stampede.
With input from agencies
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