Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has issued an apology following a deadly stampede during what was meant to be a victory procession for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team. At least seven people lost their lives, and over twenty were injured when a massive crowd near the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) gates spiralled out of control.
Expressing regret over the cancellation of the procession, Shivakumar told reporters, "We are very proud of RCB and Karnataka. Eighteen years—a long struggle. Kohli’s loyalty has paid dividends... I think this is not a controllable crowd. I apologise to all the people of Bengaluru and Karnataka. We wanted to hold a procession, but the situation became unmanageable."
Despite heavy rain, thousands of fans had gathered along the route from Vidhana Soudha to M Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate RCB’s maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Chaos erupted when supporters broke through barricades and rushed through narrow entry points, leading to the fatal crush.
While speaking to ANI, Shivakumar acknowledged the overwhelming public enthusiasm, saying, "The whole of Karnataka is excited. From the young to the old, everyone is happy. After an 18-year wait, success has finally come. I congratulate Virat Kohli for standing like a rock and commend his loyalty to Karnataka. I hope this is just the beginning, and the cup stays with RCB."
The incident has cast a shadow over the historic sporting achievement, prompting calls for better safety measures at public events.
