Virat Kohli has issued a public statement, 91 days after the tragic stampede at Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star described June 4 as the day which was meant to mark the team’s biggest triumph, but turned into a day of deep sorrow.
Kohli’s emotional note
The stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and left many others injured, casting a dark shadow over what should have been a historic celebration for the RCB players and franchise.
Kohli said the heartbreaking scenes of that day will always remain with him. He added that he has been keeping the families of those who lost their lives, as well as the injured fans, in his thoughts and prayers. He said that their loss has now become a part of RCB’s story. He stressed that the team and its supporters must move forward with greater “care, respect, and responsibility”.
June 4th Bengaluru stampede tragedy aftermath
Kohli was leading the victory celebrations at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium when the tragic news of a stampede outside the venue shocked everyone. The celebrations were stopped immediately.
The tragedy was linked to the announcement of an open-top bus parade, which drew thousands of fans, even though police had reportedly denied permission for it. The parade never happened, but the crowd buildup turned deadly.
RCB had earlier announced Rs 25 lakh compensation for the families of the victims, who lost their lives and also as support for the injured. This was an increase from the Rs 10 lakh that was initially announced. The team also launched ‘RCB Cares’ – an initiative aimed at going beyond compensation.
The franchise had released a 6-point action plan that included quick and transparent support for affected families, better crown management, social programmes starting with Karnataka’s Siddi community, regular safety audits, a memorial in Bengaluru for fans, and creating jobs and opportunities for local sports talent.
In the aftermath, a government panel declared M. Chinnaswamy Stadium unsafe for large events. As a result, upcoming Women’s World Cup matches and local tournaments were shifted to other venues.