Inside a modest home in Kolar, grief hangs heavy in the air. Not a single cry pierces the silence—only occasional sobs escape from the corners. The light overhead flickers dimly as Sahana’s family sits motionless, paralyzed by shock. Their 25-year-old daughter, a software engineer at Bosch, was among the 11 people who lost their lives in the horrific crowd surge during the RCB victory celebration in Bengaluru on June 4.

What was meant to be an impromptu afternoon outing with friends turned fatal. Sahana had taken a half-day off work to attend the rally. As the crowd swelled to lakhs, barricades gave way, and chaos erupted. Trapped under the collapse, Sahana was briefly rescued—only to collapse soon after. Despite minor bruises, she suffered breathlessness and died before medical help could reach her.

“She might have survived if an ambulance or a paramedic was nearby,” said her cousin Raghavendra, who arrived from Canada. He condemned the poor planning, saying 11 families were destroyed because authorities underestimated the turnout.

The pain didn’t end there. When her body was released, the family received neither a freezer box nor state-arranged transport. They were left to make their own arrangements, driving through the night with their daughter’s remains.

Sahana was the family’s strength—their emotional core. Her younger sister, just 15, has not spoken since. No compensation can replace what they’ve lost. And no apology has come.