In a tragic turn of events, at least 11 people lost their lives and 33 others were injured in a stampede during massive celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bangalore's win in the Indian Premier League cricket tournament. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka state in southern India .

The Joy Turns to Tragedy

Tens of thousands of cricket fans flooded the streets to celebrate their team's victory over Punjab Kings. However, the massive crowd of over 200,000 people in the city, which exceeded the stadium's capacity of 35,000, resulted in disaster.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as "deeply distressing," while Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed profound sorrow, stating, "The pleasure of victory is overshadowed by the pain of this tragedy."

Emergency Measures and Victory Parade Cancellation

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed the deployment of all available police forces in the city, but the overwhelming crowd surpassed expectations. Consequently, the planned victory parade was cancelled amid concerns over the authorities' ability to manage the situation.

He declared, "This tragedy should not have occurred; we stand with the victims and will not politicize the incident," announcing an immediate investigation into the event.

Heart-Wrenching Scenes and Eyewitness Accounts

Eyewitnesses and an AFP photographer reported that the streets were packed with crowds, while the police used batons to try and disperse people. Television footage showed poignant images of police officers carrying unconscious children in their arms in efforts to escape the crush.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated, "I apologize to the people of Karnataka and Bengaluru. We wanted a celebration, but the crowd went out of control."

Calls for Accountability and Nation in Mourning

Meanwhile, Congress Party leader Mallikarjun Kharge expressed deep sorrow, stating, "The loss of precious lives and injuries is very sad... Victory should not come at the expense of lives."

Questions remain about the organizational and security preparations for such events, as the historic victory becomes a somber memory in India's sporting history.

11 Dead in Tragic Stampede During Cricket Celebrations in India

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