Billionaire industrialist Harsh Goenka has strongly criticised the authorities over the tragic stampede at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where celebrations for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) maiden IPL victory turned fatal. Eleven lives were lost and 33 injured after a massive crowd surged toward the stadium on June 4.
Reacting to the tragedy on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Goenka expressed outrage at the lack of accountability. “Delhi station stampede. Kumbh stampede. Bangalore IPL stampede. Dozens die. No resignations. No accountability. No lessons. In India, the life of a common man isn’t priceless—it’s worthless. Cheaper than a cup of chai! Business will go on as usual. Nothing will change,” he posted.
The stampede reportedly began when a temporary slab over a drain collapsed under the crowd’s weight. Over 2 lakh fans had gathered, following confusing announcements about a victory parade and limited free passes. Despite police advising against the event due to safety concerns, the felicitation went ahead due to the pending departure of foreign players.
While the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) announced ₹5 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased, criticism continues over the poor planning. Virat Kohli shared his grief, saying, “At a loss for words. Absolutely gutted.”
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