India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) superstar batsman Virat Kohli has spoken out about the stampede that occurred on June 4 during his team’s celebrations of their IPL victory in Bengaluru, stating that “nothing in life really prepares you for the heartbreak” of 11 deaths on what should have been the happiest day for his team.
An estimated 2.5 lakh spectators flocked to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate RCB’s first IPL championship, which is when the horrible incident happened.
“Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise’s history…turned into something tragic,” Kohli was quoted as saying by RCB on its ‘X’ handle.
“I’ve been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost…and for our fans who were injured. Your loss is part of our story now. Together, we will move forward with care, respect and responsibility,” in his first in-depth statement, he also discussed the incident that sparked significant criticism of the franchise.
According to an official investigation into the incident, the turmoil was caused by improper clearances and an overpowering crowd that grew when the franchise sent out social media invitations.
In the investigation, RCB was found accountable for enticing the fans to turn out in large numbers, and the police acknowledged that they were greatly outnumbered in managing the attendance.
Following the incident, RCB promised to take “meaningful action” in the memory of the departed and offered the families Rs 25 lakh each in compensation.
Additionally, it established the RCB Cares foundation, which has committed to collaborating closely with league partners, sporting bodies, and stadium authorities to create improved crowd control procedures.
