‘I came to know about the incident at 5:45 pm’ – Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah breaks silent on Bengaluru stampede

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah revealed that he learnt of the deadly stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium at 5:45 p.m. on June 4. The incident, which occurred during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL win celebrations, claimed 11 lives and injured over 56 others.

Siddaramaiah stated that he received the news after the Vidhana Soudha celebrations had concluded. Notably, he did not attend the stadium ceremony, which began around 6:10 PM and was attended by D.K. Shivakumar, the Deputy Chief Minister.

“I learnt that deaths occurred at 5.45 p.m. The hospital reported deaths around 3.50 p.m., but I learnt about them at 5.45 p.m. Until that time, I was unaware of the deaths caused by the stampede.

“I have taken action against whoever did wrong,” Siddaramaiah stated.

His comments came a day after Vidhana Soudha security officer M.N. Kariasavana wrote a letter expressing security worries about staging the event outside the state assembly.

“Lakhs of security officers are expected to visit Vidhana Soudha. Making security arrangements will be tough due to a security manpower deficit,” Kariasavana wrote to G Satyavanthi, Secretary of the Department of manpower and Administrative Reforms.

“The incident occurred near the cricket stadium.” I have no relation to that. It should not have occurred. He clarified that neither the deputy chief minister, nor the home minister, were aware of the planned meetings.

The Karnataka government has upped the compensation for stampede casualties from ₹10 lakh to ₹25 lakh. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared that no family should suffer any further as a result of financial troubles.