Several fans gathered at Mumbai’s Marine Drive for the victory parade of the T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team encountered injuries and breathing difficulties on Thursday, as reported by Mumbai police.
Ravi Solanki, an eyewitness who spoke to ANI, recounted the chaotic scene: “I was returning from work and had heard the Indian team would arrive between 5 pm to 6 pm, but that didn’t happen. The crowd kept growing, and the police seemed unable to manage. Suddenly, people started shouting and some fell on each other. It was very disorganized. There was a lack of coordination. This occurred between 8:15-8:45 pm.”
One of the victims, Rishab Mahesh Yadav, who fainted during the parade, told ANI, “The crowd was overwhelming. I fell and couldn’t breathe. I lost consciousness and was taken to a nearby hospital where I received treatment. I’m feeling better now. There was excessive crowding and poor management. The police weren’t attentive either.”
Earlier, the Rohit Sharma-led team commenced their open-top bus parade from Marine Drive. Fans enthusiastically celebrated India’s T20 World Cup triumph, with players proudly displaying the trophy and acknowledging their supporters throughout the procession.
The fervor of the fans was evident as some climbed trees to cheer the passing bus carrying the players.
During the parade, the victorious players distributed cricket balls to the fans, who eagerly sought selfies and autographs.
Meanwhile, at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) presented the T20 World Cup-winning Indian team with a ₹125 crore cheque.
The felicitation ceremony took place at Wankhede Stadium following the conclusion of the victory parade, where the entire team, alongside BCCI officials, received the accolade.