Virat Kohli, the iconic player of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has honored the victims of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede along with their families. On June 4, the celebrations for RCB’s title were overshadowed by a tragic incident, which took place when approximately two-and-a-half lakh individuals gathered at the stadium to see Kohli and other players. The ensuing disorder resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals and left many others injured. Last month, RCB declared a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for each family of those who perished in the stampede.
On Wednesday, Kohli conveyed an emotional message expressing his support for the families of the victims, along with those who sustained injuries on that day.
“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. 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,” stated kohli, as quoted by RCB.
An official investigation into the incident attributed the disorder to insufficient clearances and the excessive crowd, which swelled in reaction to social media invitations disseminated by the franchise.
The police acknowledged being significantly outnumbered to control the turnout, and RCB was deemed accountable in the inquiry for inciting fans to attend in large numbers.
In the aftermath, RCB declared a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for each family of the deceased and committed to taking “meaningful action” in their honor.
Additionally, it established a foundation, RCB Cares, which has vowed to collaborate closely with stadium authorities, sports organizations, and league partners to develop improved crowd management strategies.