 "A father cries over son's grave who died in Bengaluru stampede. Image: X/theskindoctor13")
A heart-wrenching video of a father who lost his son in the Bengaluru stampede earlier this week is going viral on social media. During Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2025 victory celebrations in the city, a stampede occurred, which claimed 11 lives and left over 70 people injured.
Father cries over son’s grave
In the video, the father, named BT Lakshman, could be seen lying on the ground next to his son’s grave, holding on tightly and refusing to leave. The scene from his native village in Hassan district was heartbreaking to watch.
“What happened to my son should not happen to anyone. The land I had bought for him is now where his memorial has been built,” the father, who lost his 21-year-old son Bhumik Lakshman, said.
“I don’t want to go anywhere else now. I want to stay here too. No father should have to face what I am facing,” he added. Two men came and tried to lift him up, but the father couldn’t stop crying.
Bengaluru stampede that claimed 11 lives
The stampede happened outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where a huge crowd had gathered for a free event announced by the RCB, a post which they deleted after the incident. Fans were hoping to get a glimpse of their heroes, but the arrangements were poor.
The police, stationed outside the stadium gate, failed to control the large number of people and the stampede occurred. This happened just minutes before the RCB team arrived at the stadium following a felicitation ceremony at the Vidhana Soudha.
Despite the tragedy, the RCB team continued the celebrations at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar gave speeches and the squad performed a lap of honour with the trophy. This was RCB’s maiden IPL title win.