It was not until 5:45 PM on June 4 that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah learnt of the fatal stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Eleven people were killed and more than 56 injured in the tragedy, which happened during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL win celebrations.
After the festivities at Vidhana Soudha were over, Siddaramaiah said he received the news.
It is noteworthy that he did not attend the ceremony at the stadium, which was attended by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and started at approximately 6:10 PM.
“I learnt that fatalities occurred about 5:45 p.m. Deaths were reported at the hospital around 3:50 pm, but I didn’t find out until 5:45 pm. I didn’t know that the stampede was killing people until then. Siddaramaiah declared, “I have taken action against whoever has done wrong.”
His remarks were made the day after M.N. Kariasavana, the security officer for Vidhana Soudha, raised security concerns in a letter regarding the event being held outside the state assembly.
“It is anticipated that thousands of security guards will visit Vidhana Soudha. Making security arrangements will be challenging due to the lack of security personnel, Kariasavana wrote to G Satyavanthi, secretary of the department of personnel and administrative reforms.
The event took place close to the cricket ground. That has nothing to do with me. It was not supposed to occur. He went on to declare, “Neither the home minister nor I know about it (arranging meetings), nor the deputy chief minister…” (he later amended himself).
The compensation for the stampede victims was recently raised by the Karnataka government from ₹10 lakh to ₹25 lakh. According to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, no family should have to endure more hardship because of money problems.