Bengaluru Stampede: Who is to Blame?

The death toll continues to rise following the tragic stampede near Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, caused by a combination of overenthusiastic fans and inadequate government arrangements. So far, 11 people have been reported dead, and over 50 others have been injured.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responded to the incident, stating that due to time constraints, proper arrangements could not be made. He explained that the celebration had to take place that day due to the players’ prior commitments. Although the stadium has a capacity of 35,000, over 2 lakh fans had gathered, which led to a situation that quickly got out of control. On behalf of the state government, he announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each of the deceased's families and assured free medical treatment for the injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, announcing Rs 2 lakh in compensation for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Meanwhile, the BJP quickly politicized the incident, blaming the Congress-led government for gross negligence, calling it "criminal negligence," and accusing the government of having "blood on its hands."

While government oversight was a significant factor in the stampede, the impatience and recklessness of the crowd also played a role. It's worth noting that similar incidents have occurred in BJP-ruled states as well, such as the recent Hathras tragedy in Uttar Pradesh, where over 100 people died during a religious event, and last month’s stampede in Goa, which claimed six lives.

Ultimately, while both administrative failure and public negligence contribute to such disasters, the responsibility to prevent them in the future lies squarely with the government.