Following the tragic stampede that occurred 91 days ago during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Indian Premier League (IPL) victory celebrations, Virat Kohli has issued his first public statement, addressing the event that took the lives of 11 people and injured dozens more. The incident occurred on June 4th at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, when an estimated 300,000 fans gathered to celebrate the team's anticipated IPL trophy.
Kohli's statement, released by RCB, expresses the profound sorrow and heartbreak he felt in the wake of the tragedy. "Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th," Kohli stated. "What should've been the happiest moment in our franchise's history… turned into something tragic. I've been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost… and for our fans who were injured. Your loss is part of our story now. Together, we will move forward with care, respect and responsibility".
The stampede occurred as fans gathered to celebrate RCB's maiden IPL trophy win. The franchise had shared open invitations on social media, leading to a massive turnout that overwhelmed the stadium's capacity. Reports indicate that the police were unprepared and outnumbered, unable to manage the surge of fans.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, RCB has launched a new initiative called 'RCB Cares'. This initiative aims to improve fan safety and crowd management in a more systematic and sustainable manner. As part of this initiative, RCB announced financial assistance of ₹25 lakh to each of the families of the deceased. The franchise also expressed grief and assured continuous support to the bereaved families. RCB stated that the people who lost their lives were part of the RCB family, an integral part of the city, community, and team. Their absence will forever resonate in the memories of everyone.
The Justice Cunha Commission was appointed by the Karnataka government to investigate the stampede. The commission's report stated that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was unfit to host large public events. The commission also noted that RCB had not obtained the necessary clearances to host the large gathering.
Kohli's statement and RCB's initiatives reflect a commitment to learning from the tragedy and ensuring greater safety and responsibility in future events. The franchise is collaborating with the IPL and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to develop stronger crowd management protocols.
