Cabinet to decide on resumption of matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium
Bengaluru (PTI): The fate of hosting cricket matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium will be decided at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said.
Cricket matches have remained suspended at the stadium after celebrations marking Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) maiden IPL title win in June 2025 ended in tragedy, leaving 11 people dead and more than 30 injured in a stampede outside the venue.
Thousands of fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of the team.
To probe the incident and prevent such occurrences in the future, the Karnataka government constituted a committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice John Michael Cunha.
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The panel submitted a series of short-term and long-term recommendations aimed at strengthening crowd management and safety measures.
With the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and RCB pushing for the resumption of matches at the venue, the state government has maintained that games cannot be held unless the recommendations of the Justice Cunha Committee are implemented.
Speaking to reporters, Parameshwara said he would brief his Cabinet colleagues on his discussions with the KSCA and RCB regarding hosting IPL matches at the stadium.
The KSCA office-bearers and RCB representatives met the minister earlier in the day.
"We told them that if they want matches to take place, they must comply with the recommendations of the Justice John Michael Cunha Committee," Parameshwara said.
According to the minister, the KSCA and RCB have already implemented some of the short-term measures suggested by the panel.
He noted that the IPL season is set to begin soon and that, as defending champions, RCB are scheduled to play their opening match in Bengaluru in accordance with the norms.
Parameshwara added that the state government had also formed a committee comprising officials from the Greater Bengaluru Authority, the Bengaluru Police Commissioner’s Office, and representatives of various departments to assess the implementation of the Cunha Committee’s recommendations. The panel has submitted its report.
"We have received the report and examined its pros and cons. As the home minister, I was entrusted by the Cabinet with holding discussions with the stakeholders and briefing the ministers. I will place the matter before the Cabinet today, and a decision will be announced thereafter," he said.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
