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EYE ON INDIA JUNE 13, 2025 | The Indian Eye 8

People Crushed by Negligence: Stampede

Politics and India’s Casualty Culture

As political parties trade blame over the Bengaluru stadium stampede that left 11 dead,

the tragedy highlights India’s deadly disregard for public safety — a system where

warnings are ignored, rules are bent, and accountability is always someone else’s problem

OUR BUREAU dy, they blamed the police. But a police failure is
also a government failure,” he said.
Bengaluru
The Casual Culture of Public Safety
he deadly stampede at Bengaluru’s M. Chin- The Bengaluru stampede is not just a matter
naswamy Stadium during Royal Challengers of political rivalry — it reveals a deep-rooted cul-
TBengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations ture of recklessness when it comes to public safe-
has erupted into a political firestorm in Karnataka, ty. Experts have long warned about India’s lack of
with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding crowd management protocols, especially during
the resignation of top Congress leaders, and the large gatherings.
government scrambling to contain the fallout by Permissions are often granted under politi-
suspending senior police officers. But beyond the cal pressure. Crowd estimates are wildly inaccu-
war of words lies a more damning reality: in India, rate. Safety drills are rare, emergency exits often
stampedes are not rare tragedies — they are a rou- non-functional, and coordination among agencies
tine consequence of institutional apathy and politi- practically non-existent.
cal showmanship. Despite the police initially refusing permis-
At least 11 people lost their lives and scores sion for the RCB celebration, political insistence
were injured when an overwhelming crowd, re- reportedly pushed the event through. The FIR
portedly numbering in the lakhs, descended on a acknowledges that no clearance was given for the
celebration event that was originally expected to Chinnaswamy Stadium gathering. Yet lakhs con-
attract just 30,000-40,000. gregated in the heart of Bengaluru, near Vidha-
na Soudha, without adequate barricades, surveil-
The event had reportedly not been cleared lance, or evacuation planning.
RCB’s Marketing and Revenue Head, Nikhil
by the police, yet it proceeded under Sosale, who was arrested by Bengaluru Police, has

political pressure and against official now approached the High Court challenging the
legality of his arrest. Meanwhile, top KSCA offi-
warnings. The Karnataka Police eventu- cials have filed petitions seeking to quash the FIR
ally registered a First Information Report Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah meets the injured against them. The legal blame game is well under-
way, but the broader question remains: why were
(FIR) against RCB, the Karnataka State in the stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, at Bowring public safety warnings ignored, and why does no

Cricket Association (KSCA), and event Hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) one in power take proactive responsibility?
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended his
management firm DNA Entertainment, government’s actions, saying that “those visibly re-
charging them with culpable homicide is Accused No. 1, DCM is No. 2, and the Home sponsible” had been suspended. But critics argue
Minister is No. 3,” Vijayendra declared in a press
that the move came too late and only after intense
and other serious offences. conference. He claimed the government only act- media and judicial pressure. “The CM only woke
ed after the Karnataka High Court took suo motu up after the FIR was filed,” Vijayendra charged.
Stampedes like this are tragically common in cognisance of the incident and issued scathing re- “A late-night press conference, some suspensions
India. From temples and political rallies to stadi- marks. — that’s not accountability, that’s face-saving.”
ums and railway stations, crowd control failures Following public outrage and court interven- In response, the Congress government has
are a recurring theme. In 2013, a stampede at the tion, the state government suspended five senior tried to pin the blame on logistical failures and
Ratangarh Temple in Madhya Pradesh killed over police officers, including Bengaluru Police Com- rogue organisers. But even that narrative is shaky.
110 people. In 2017, 23 people died in a crush at missioner B. Dayananda. But Vijayendra called The intelligence failure was massive — with crowd
Mumbai’s Elphinstone railway station. Each time, this a diversionary tactic. “You’ve made police of- estimates falling far short of actual turnout. And
the same questions arise about poor planning, in- ficers scapegoats, but why hasn’t any officer from the police, though now scapegoated, had reported-
adequate exits, and the utter absence of account- the intelligence wing been suspended?” he asked. ly issued warnings ahead of time.
ability — and each time, the system moves on, “Because that would mean admitting the CM’s The stampede has reignited a broader debate
barely changed. own failure.” over public safety protocols in India. Will it lead to
The BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy echoed any meaningful change? Based on past experience,
wasted no time laying the blame squarely on Chief these accusations, claiming the event was greenlit it’s unlikely. Investigations will drag on, political
Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D.K. Shiva- by the government despite police objections. “To parties will exchange accusations, FIRs may be
kumar, and Home Minister G. Parameshwara, build their image by misusing this IPL trophy, both quashed, and eventually, the news cycle will move
accusing them of criminal negligence. “The CM CM and DCM ignored warnings. After the trage- on — until the next stampede.

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