What Led to the Bengaluru Stampede? Karandlaje Calls for High Court Inquiry

Synopsis
Union Minister <b>Shobha Karandlaje</b> visited the injured from the Bengaluru stampede and called for a judicial inquiry, criticizing the government's lack of accountability. The tragic incident during RCB victory celebrations resulted in 11 deaths. This article delves into the systemic failures that led to this catastrophe and the urgent need for justice.
Key Takeaways
- Eleven lives were lost due to a tragic stampede in Bengaluru.
- Shobha Karandlaje demands a judicial inquiry into the circumstances of the incident.
- The event suffered from severe lack of crowd control and emergency planning.
- Government officials are facing scrutiny for systemic failures leading up to the tragedy.
- Calls for compensation and free medical treatment for the injured have been made.
Bengaluru, June 5 (NationPress) - Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shobha Karandlaje, visited Bowring Hospital on Thursday to check on the health of those injured in the stampede that occurred at Chinnaswamy Stadium during the RCB team victory celebrations on Wednesday, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals.
Shobha has formally reached out to the acting Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court with an urgent appeal for suo moto intervention and an official judicial inquiry into the stampede incident.
She expressed, “This calamity is not merely an accident; it stems from severe systemic failures and a total collapse of state accountability. Only the prompt intervention of this court can ensure justice and restore public confidence in governance and the rule of law.”
“It is particularly troubling that the Chief Minister has publicly claimed the state government bears no responsibility for the stampede or the resulting fatalities, asserting that they only organized the event at Vidhana Soudha, not at the stadium,” Shobha pointed out.
“This refusal to accept responsibility represents a clear attempt to obscure the government's role and protect the officials accountable for this disastrous mismanagement. It is apparent that this serves as a cover-up aimed at absolving the very institutions that have let the people down,” she asserted.
She further remarked, “Moreover, the magisterial inquiry ordered by the Chief Minister, led by the Deputy Commissioner—an officer who is part of the same administration under scrutiny—is inherently biased and devoid of public trust. An internal investigation cannot be relied upon to conduct an unbiased and thorough examination of the incident.”
“I pen this letter with profound sorrow and grave concern regarding the tragic stampede that took place at the M. Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium in Bengaluru during the public celebration of the RCB team. This incident, which has resulted in the loss of at least 11 innocent lives and left over 45 others injured, is a direct outcome of gross negligence, mismanagement, and failures on the part of the state government and its officials.”
The event was plagued by a complete absence of crowd control, planning, and coordination among government departments and law enforcement. Despite clear signs of an extraordinary public turnout—estimated at over 200,000—there was no effective crowd management, emergency medical support, or sufficient ambulance services.
Shockingly, around 4:45 PM, a stampede-like situation erupted outside several stadium gates, resulting in widespread panic and injuries, she noted.
Shobha Karandlaje also urged the Chief Minister to provide at least ₹50 lakh in compensation and free medical treatment for the injured.