‘Two died before my eyes’: Chilling eyewitness account opens debate on stampede tragedy
Bengaluru: As Karnataka celebrated Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first IPL victory in 18 years, a joyous occasion turned into tragedy when a stampede broke out at the celebratory event organised at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, claiming at least 11 lives and leaving several injured.
Thousands of fans had gathered at the venue to cheer the team, but overcrowding and poor crowd management led to a deadly rush. Among the victims were fans from both Karnataka and other states.
Speaking to Vartha Bharati, Chetan from Mysuru, who survived the incident, said, “Two people died right in front of me. Women were in great distress. Someone stepped over my shoulder – it felt like a near-death experience. There was no police or stadium staff to help us.”
Chinmay from Nanjangud said the incident occurred around 3:30 pm. “Only four gates were open for thousands. Many couldn’t even enter the stadium and were crushed outside. Ambulances took over two hours to arrive,” he added.
The grandfather of Divyanshi, a 13-year-old girl who died in the stampede, said the family had just reached the venue when they were informed to rush to Bowring Hospital – “We were told Dimple didn’t make it,” he said, devastated.
Many of the injured were women. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos near Gates 18 and 19, with barricades trampled and a young woman bleeding from her nose shouting for help.
The majority of the deceased were from economically weaker sections. Several families are yet to trace their loved ones. Fans are demanding government jobs for the families of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.
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PM Modi, myself don't have 'wife issue': Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi (PTI): In a friendly banter, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he didn’t have "the wife issue", as the Congress MP emphasised that everyone has learnt from women in their lives.
Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on the three bills introduced for amendments to the women's quota law and setting up a delimitation commission, Gandhi said women are a driving force in the national imagination and national perspective.
"All of us in this room have been influenced, taught, and have learnt a lot from women in our lives – from mothers, sisters, wives," Gandhi said.
"Of course, the prime minister and myself don't have the wife issue, so we don't get that input, but we have our mothers and sisters," he said while referring to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju's light-hearted remark that he got a scolding at home as he did not pen a poem for his wife like Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal did.
Gandhi also lauded his sister and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi's speech in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
"Yesterday, I was watching my sister achieve in five minutes what I have not been able to do in 20 years of my political career – make Amit Shah Ji smile," Gandhi said to peals of laughter.
