Chinnaswamy stampede: Judicial probe underway; Hearing set for 11 bereaved families

A magisterial investigation, led by the district magistrate, has been initiated into the tragic stampede that occurred during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory celebrations. Eleven families who lost loved ones in the incident have been summoned individually to register their statements, officially scheduled for Monday, the 16th of this month, at the district collector’s office.

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According to District Commissioner Jagadish, notices have been dispatched exclusively to the affected families. The intention is to record their testimonies before the judicial magistrate presiding over the probe, ensuring each bereaved family has a dedicated time slot from morning till evening.

Relatives had been unable to speak immediately following the tragedy due to the prevailing atmosphere of grief and funeral rituals. On the day of the incident, many described chaos inside the stadium like absence of ambulance services, lack of first-aid facilities, and no fire brigade presence. These failures reportedly heightened the calamity’s toll and deepened the families’ anguish.

In response, the district magistrate has taken an active role in overseeing the investigation, coordinating closely with the judicial magistrate to ensure orderly documentation of each statement. The aim is to establish a clear sequence of events and determine responsibility, from crowd control lapses to emergency preparedness failures.

By formally recording testimony from the victims’ kin, authorities seek to produce transparent findings, enabling legal redress and prevention of future oversights in managing large-scale public events.

With families finally ready to speak out, the scheduled hearings hope to bring closure and clarity to a tragedy that not only marred Bengaluru’s celebratory spirit but also exposed systemic shortcomings.