States » SouthPosted at: Jun 7 2025 8:54PM


High Court asks if RCB stampede was preventable

Bengaluru, June 5 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court has taken a suo motu cognisance of the tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations that claimed 11 lives and left several injured.
The Court sought urgent answers from the State Government on multiple fronts, including whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice CM Joshi registered a writ petition titled "Re: Stampede on 04.06.2025” and directed the state to file a detailed status report addressing lapses in planning, crowd control, and emergency response.
The Court posed nine pointed questions to the state, seeking clarity on who authorised the event and when, what steps were taken to manage crowd and traffic, and whether any advance estimation of attendance was made. It also asked about the adequacy of medical and emergency facilities at the venue, the promptness of care and hospital transport for the injured, and whether official permission was obtained.
Crucially, the Bench inquired if any Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) existed for managing gatherings above 50,000 people, and if not, why such a protocol had not been developed.
"Does the state have any SOP to manage crowds exceeding 50,000 at celebratory or sporting events? If not, why not?" Justice Rao asked, highlighting how the absence of formal protocols could have contributed to the disaster. Finally, it sought details on the remedial steps planned to prevent future tragedies.
The Court observed that multiple communications and emails had been received from concerned citizens demanding accountability. The matter has been listed for further hearing on June 10, with the Bench emphasizing the need for clear responsibility, thorough investigation, and forward-looking reforms.
The Court's order followed a review of several press reports chronicling how poor coordination and crowd mismanagement turned celebrations into chaos. Advocate General K Shashi Kiran Shetty accepted notice and submitted a preliminary statement, while other advocates made submissions, prompting the Bench to demand a more comprehensive official report.
Expressing concern over the lack of institutional mechanisms to handle large public events in urban centres like Bengaluru, the Bench stressed, "The intent to celebrate must never result in loss of life."
The Court also noted multiple communications from citizens demanding accountability, reinforcing the need for judicial intervention.
The case has been re-listed for further hearing on June 10, with the Court emphasizing that it expects clear responsibility, concrete answers, and forward-looking reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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