We Were Unaware...: IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal On RCB Celebrations Amid Stampede

In a tragic turn of events, 11 individuals lost their lives in two stampedes outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and Vidhana Souda premises in Bengaluru. This occurred during the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) victory celebrations. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal stated that officials inside the stadium were unaware of the chaos unfolding outside.

Mr Dhumal questioned the organisation of the Bengaluru event, noting that celebrations had already taken place in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. For the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Indian Premier League (IPL) concluded on that day as well. He expressed concern over how such a large crowd gathered at the stadium.

Event Organisation and Protocol

The IPL chairman highlighted that all state government officials were present, implying that protocols should have been followed. He mentioned that for BCCI and IPL, festivities ended on Tuesday night. The continuation of celebrations was left to the discretion of the respective franchise.

Upon learning about the situation, Mr Dhumal communicated with management, who promised to conclude the ceremony swiftly. "We spoke to the management when we got to know about the situation and they assured that they will finish the ceremony quickly," he said.

Unawareness Among Officials

Mr Dhumal reiterated that those inside were oblivious to the tragedy outside. He shared his condolences, stating it was a deeply saddening incident. "Officials inside weren't aware about what happened outside... Heartfelt condolences," he remarked.

The RCB officials assured Mr Dhumal they would promptly end their celebrations upon being informed of the unfortunate events. "RCB officials assured me that they will wind up the celebrations now," he added.

This incident raises questions about event management and crowd control measures during large gatherings.