Cricholic
❗ RCB Parade Tragedy: Govt Points to Mismanagement
RCB Parade celebrations in Bengaluru turned into a deadly disaster on June 4, as a massive crowd surge outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium left 11 people dead and over 50 injured. On July 17, the Karnataka government released a status report holding Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) primarily responsible for the incident.
The report, published following a directive from the Karnataka High Court, also highlighted the roles of DNA Networks and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for organizing the event without securing official permission.
🚫 RCB Parade Went Ahead Despite Police Rejection
The organisers ignored police instructions and chose to go ahead with the event. KSCA CEO Subhendu Ghosh informed Cubbon Park Police on June 3 about the possible parade. However, due to lack of details and extremely short notice, the police rejected the proposal.
Despite this, RCB posted an open invitation at 7:01 AM on June 4 via its official social media accounts, urging fans to join the RCB Parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium.
📲 Virat Kohli’s Message Amplified RCB Parade Turnout
In addition to the public invites, a video featuring Virat Kohli added to the excitement.
“I’m going to feel the real side of it when we get to Bengaluru tomorrow and celebrate this with the city.”
This message quickly gained traction and led to a massive turnout. According to officials, over 3 lakh people gathered in the area. Metro ridership spiked to 9.66 lakh, well above the average of 6 lakh, proving the extraordinary scale of the crowd.
⚠️ Confusion Over RCB Parade Entry Sparked Panic
RCB’s early posts made it seem like entry to the parade was open to all. However, only around 3:14 PM did the organisers clarify that free passes were needed for entry. The late update triggered confusion and emotional unrest among thousands of attendees.
As crowds surged near Gates 1, 2, and 21, security efforts failed to manage the situation. Many fans grew restless and frustrated, leading to a stampede-like rush at several entry points.
⚖️ RCB Parade Organisers Violated Legal Protocols
The status report highlights that the organisers did not comply with the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bangalore City) Order, 2009. They neither submitted the required forms nor provided crucial information to departments responsible for safety.
The state government has also questioned the tribunal order that revoked the suspension of IPS officer Vikash Kumar and four others. According to the report, these officers failed to impose prohibitory orders and instead went forward with basic security arrangements that proved inadequate.
🔍 CID Investigation Into RCB Parade Nears Conclusion
The CID probe is now in its final stage. Officials from RCB and DNA Networks have already given their statements. While the final verdict remains pending, the report has clearly attributed the failure to poor planning and disregard for protocol by the franchise and its partners.
