DK Shivakumar Breaks Down Over Bengaluru Stampede Tragedy After IPL Victory - "It Hurts to See the Little Children"

"It Hurts to See the Little Children": Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar Breaks Down Over Bengaluru Stampede Tragedy

Bengaluru, Karnataka – The joyous celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) maiden IPL victory turned into a heart-wrenching tragedy on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, as a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and left dozens injured. In a raw display of emotion, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar broke down in tears while addressing the media on Thursday, expressing profound sorrow over the loss of lives, particularly that of young children.

The incident occurred as an estimated 2 to 3 lakh fans, far exceeding the stadium's 35,000 capacity, converged on the venue for the RCB victory parade and felicitation event. Reports indicate that the chaos was exacerbated by a collapsed drain slab and a surge of people attempting to enter through small gates.


A visibly shaken Shivakumar struggled to hold back his tears as he spoke about the devastating impact of the tragedy. "I am worried about the children, those small children, I saw they were 15 years old. I've seen with my eyes at least 10 people who died. No family can digest this loss," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "It hurts to see the little children. I have seen their pain."

He recounted the harrowing scene at the stadium, stating that the police commissioner had urged him to conclude the event quickly due to fatalities. "The Police Commissioner told me to wrap the event in 10 minutes. I rushed the event," Shivakumar revealed.

The Deputy CM had offered an apology on Wednesday, acknowledging that the government had underestimated the sheer volume of the crowd. "This should not have happened and we never expected such a big crowd... Gates (of the stadium) have been broken... We apologise for this incident," he had stated.

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Amidst mounting criticism from the opposition, primarily the BJP and JD(S), who have accused the Congress-led government of "criminal negligence" and politicizing the deaths, Shivakumar urged for empathy. "Let the opposition do politics on dead bodies. I will list how many dead bodies they have done politics on. But it hurts to see the little children. I have seen their pain," he asserted, taking full responsibility for the incident.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced a one-member commission to probe the incident and has also ordered the suspension of top police department officials, including the Commissioner of Bengaluru City Police. An FIR has been filed against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and the event management firm DNA Entertainment, among others, on charges of criminal negligence.

The tragedy has cast a pall over what should have been a moment of collective joy for Bengaluru. As investigations are underway, the raw emotion displayed by Deputy CM Shivakumar serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the stampede and the urgent need for accountability and improved crowd management protocols for future public events. The state government has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the deceased and free treatment for the injured.

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