DK Shivakumar defends govt action after Bengaluru stampede, promises safety plan

Following the tragic stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives, the Karnataka government has initiated a judicial inquiry, filed criminal cases, and suspended senior officials in response to mounting public and political pressure.

Also Read: Karnataka HC bars coercive action against KSCA in interim order over stadium stampede FIR

The crowd crush occurred during a celebratory event for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory, drawing tens of thousands of fans and overwhelming crowd control systems. In the aftermath, the government has taken a series of actions aimed at accountability and damage control.

Among those suspended are Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, the Chief Minister’s political secretary K. Govindaraj, and information department head Hemant Nimbalkar. Additionally, a plan of action has been promised to prevent future crowd management failures.

An FIR has been lodged against the RCB franchise, DNA Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (the event’s organizer), and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), citing charges including culpable homicide and unlawful assembly.

While Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar defended the government’s handling of the tragedy, stating that both financial and judicial investigations are underway, opposition leaders from the BJP accused the Congress-led administration of acting only under pressure and attempting to shield key officials.

All 11 victims were under the age of 40, with a 14-year-old girl being the youngest. The tragedy has sparked statewide grief and renewed calls for better event planning and public safety infrastructure in major cities.