Bengaluru Stampede: Paying tribute to 11 innocent lives we lost

What was meant to be a grand celebration of RCB’s IPL journey turned into a horrifying tragedy as thousands of fans gathered near Chinnaswamy Stadium, overwhelming the venue and resulting in a deadly stampede. In the chaos, 11 innocent lives were lost- a heartbreaking reminder of how poor crowd management can turn joy into devastation.

Let’s take a look at the lives that were tragically cut short:

1. Bhoomik (20):

From Nagasandra, Bhoomik had come with friends, excited to catch a glimpse of his RCB heroes. While his friends managed to get inside, Bhoomik got stuck outside and tragically lost his life in the ensuing rush.

From Bhoomik, let’s move to victim 2, whose story is equally heartbreaking.

2. Akshata:

A native of Uttar Kannada, Akshata had come with her husband Ashay. Married just a year ago, the young couple lived in Kammanahalli. In the terrifying moments of the stampede, Akshata collapsed right in front of her husband. Despite efforts to revive her, she could not be saved.

Just like Akshata, victim 3 also came to the event full of excitement and never returned home.

3. Sahana:

An engineering graduate from Kolar working in a Bengaluru tech firm, Sahana had come with friends. Young and full of life, she got caught in the stampede and tragically passed away. Her body was later taken back to her home in SG Layout, Kolar.

Now we turn to victim 4, whose death came just hours after a hopeful job interview.

4. Prajwal:

From Chikkaballapur, Prajwal had finished a job interview and, caught up in the celebratory mood, went to the stadium without informing his family. They only realized his fate when his name was announced among the deceased.

Much like Prajwal, the next victim too was a student, though far younger.

5. Divyanshi (14):

A 9th grader from Yelahanka, Divyanshi came with her aunt and cousin to witness the celebration. She was caught in the surge of the crowd and suffocated to death. Her loss has left her family inconsolable.

Moving from a young schoolgirl, we come to victim 6, a student with dreams of higher education.

6. Shivalinga:

A student from Yadgir’s Ramasandra village, he had come to Bengaluru to collect his transfer certificate for college admission. Drawn to the stadium by the festive energy, he was caught in the tragedy. His parents, daily-wage laborers, are shattered.

From Yadgir, we move to Mandya, where the family of victim 7 is grieving.

7. Poornachandra (26):

A civil engineer from KR Pete, Poornachandra was in the crowd when he began experiencing difficulty breathing. CPR was administered, but he could not be revived. His body was taken back to his hometown, where his grieving parents received him with tearful eyes.

Next is victim 8, a working woman from Tamil Nadu.

8. Devi (29):

Originally from Coimbatore and living in Ramamurthynagar, Devi had come to witness the event like many others. Her body has now been sent back to her hometown. Not much is known yet about her presence at the event, as no photos of her were recovered.

From Tamil Nadu to Chikkaballapur again, victim 9 was a bright young dental student.

9. Shravan (20):

Studying at Ambedkar College, Shravan hailed from Kurutahalli near Chintamani. He was among the crowd and succumbed to injuries during the stampede. His classmates and professors are mourning the loss of a promising future.

We now come to victim 10, an artist and athlete- a truly multi-talented soul.

10. Chinmayi Shetty:

A Yakshagana performer and basketball player, Chinmayi was learning at Yakshataranga, Bengaluru. Her parents had high hopes for her bright career in the arts. Their world has come crashing down with her untimely death.

Lastly, we remember victim 11, a young boy from a humble background.

11. Manoj:

The son of a panipuri vendor, Manoj was pursuing his II PUC at a Yelahanka college. Originally from Yadiyur in Kunigal, Tumakuru, his father had been working hard to give him a better life. Manoj, too, joined the crowds with excitement - and never made it back.

As investigations begin, public anger is rising over the lack of police presence, barricading, and clear communication at the venue. Each of these victims came with dreams- of celebration, of joy, of fandom. They returned as memories and names etched in a tragic chapter of Bengaluru’s history.