The iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the heart of RCB (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) and its fan base, has been found “unsuitable and unsafe for mass gathering” by a one-man judicial commission headed by Justice John Michael D’Cunha. The commission was set up by the Karnataka government after the tragic stampede that killed 11 people and left many others injured during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title victory celebration on June 4.
This scathing observation, put before the state cabinet recently and accessed by PTI, jeopardises a number of imminent marquee matches – notably, the first and last games of the ICC Women’s World Cup to be hosted at the Chinnaswamy Stadium later this year.
The report did not shy away from detailing the architectural inadequacies of the stadium. “The structure and design of the stadium were inappropriate and unsafe for mass assembly,” the commission declared. These revelations now present a serious challenge to the state government and cricketing authorities, especially as the stadium continues to be one of the only international-standard grounds in Karnataka.
In response to the crisis, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has already stated that the next Maharaja Trophy T20 tournament will be held behind closed doors, a measure of caution that underscores the seriousness of the situation.
In addition, the commission recommended that large sporting events be moved to more suitable venues with the capacity to accommodate massive crowds. “Based on these systemic constraints the commission strongly suggests that stadium authorities move events that are likely to draw high volumes of people to more appropriate venues in terms of accommodating such high volumes of people,” the report suggested.
In order to prevent such disasters from recurring, some safety upgrades were also recommended. These include international-level emergency evacuation procedures and more entry and exit points. The commission urged strongly against the hosting of any high-attendance events until these are in place. “Unless and until such infrastructural improvements are undertaken, the continued hosting of high attendance events in the existing location poses unacceptable risks to public safety, urban mobility and emergency preparedness,” the report cautioned.
More seriously, the commission has suggested legal proceedings against a number of senior officials. Included on the list are KSCA President Raghuram Bhat, ex-secretary A Shankar, treasurer ES Jairam, RCB Vice-President Rajesh Menon, and senior management from DNA Entertainment Networks, including MD T Venkat Vardhan and VP Sunil Mathur.
Simultaneously, DNA Entertainment Networks has approached the Karnataka High Court questioning the constitutionality and findings of the commission, indicating that the legal war over the tragedy and its aftermath is yet to subside.
What Fans Had To Say
Following the report, some of the fans who showered their love on Chinnaswamy also condemned the findings:
When asked about this ongoing topic, one of the fans stated, “It is sad to hear about our Chinnaswamy. Never in my life did I expect to hear something like this.”
Another fan lambasted the call, stating, “After all these years, after this incident, now they are declaring that the stadium is ‘unsafe’! There have been many other big matches in the past, but just because of this, you cannot defame Bengaluru’s pride.”
As the Women’s World Cup draws near, all eyes will now turn to the state government, the BCCI, and global cricket authorities to decide if Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium will continue as a venue or make way for a safer one.
*We made efforts to speak to stadium officials. There has been no comment as of the time of writing the report. As and when it comes, the story will be updated.
