Two women have died of snake bites in separate incidents in Maharashtra's Thane district, according to police statement on Thursday, June 5. A snake bit Rani Harishchandra Nimse, a 19-year-old engineering student, while she was asleep at her home in Alyani village on Wednesday afternoon, an official from Shahapur police station said, reported news agency PTI. "She was immediately taken to a rural hospital in Shahapur for treatment. As her condition worsened, she was referred to the Thane Civil Hospital, but she succumbed on the way to the medical facility," the official said, reported PTI. In another incident on Wednesday, Reshma Ajay Diva (22), resident of Dukhambe in Bhatsa Nagar, was bitten by a snake when she ventured into a forest area to collect some vegetables, an official from Khardi police station said. She collapsed on the spot. The body was later sent to a government hospital for postmortem, an official stated, reported PTI. The police have registered accidental death reports in both incidents and advised residents in rural and forest-adjacent areas to remain vigilant, especially during the monsoon months. People have also been advised to take precautions while venturing into forest areas and sleeping on the floor, the police said. Forest officials probe source of snakes used by foreign influencers Earlier in March, following the report in mid-day about foreign influencers allegedly mishandling snakes protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, sources from the Maharashtra Forest Department informed mid-day that the investigation to identify those responsible for supplying live snakes to the international influencer in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai has commenced. A team from the forest department also visited the location in Navi Mumbai where the snake handling was done and the forest department found containers/jars that may have been used to transport the snakes. A forest department official said, “We have got the list of the snake rescuers from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai who have allegedly supplied the live snakes to both the international influencers for making videos. We have also got a group picture where 15 people are seen posing with both the influencers and we suspect that these people have supplied the live snakes. We will be investigating their roles and they will soon be called for questioning.” (With PTI inputs)
05 June,2025 03:46 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Thane police have apprehended an additional individual in relation to a Ponzi scheme, wherein over 100 individuals are purported to have been defrauded of Rs 91 crore, as stated by a senior official on Thursday. With the most recent arrest occurring on Wednesday, a total of three individuals have been taken into custody by the police's Economic Offences Wing concerning the fraudulent activities, as noted in a statement by Deputy Commissioner of Police (EOW) Parag Manere, according to news agency PTI. Additionally, the police have issued look-out notices for four other suspects, and there are ongoing efforts to locate all individuals involved in this scheme, he added. The scheme, allegedly initiated by a company asserting its role in developing applications for Google, enticed investors between the years 2020 and 2024 with misleading promises of significant returns generated from advertisements, according to police reports, reported PTI. "Under the scheme, 124 investors have been cheated to the tune of Rs 91.63 crore. The count is still on," the official stated, reported PTI. So far, nine accused have been identified and named in the FIR registered with the Vartak Nagar police station here under Indian Penal Code sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention), and the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act, the official said. The police on Wednesday arrested Parag Ashokkumar Shah (47) from Narayangaon in Pune. He was later presented before a local magistrate in Thane and remanded in police custody till June 11, the official said. The police earlier arrested Rajesh Khedabai Pambar alias Rajubhai in March and Pravinkumar Mansukhbai Vor, both hailing from Gujarat, in April this year in connection with the fraud, as per the official. Earlier, Bollywood actor Dino Morea and his brother Santino were questioned by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police in connection with the alleged Rs 65-crore Mithi River desilting scam. This was the second time in three days that the actor had been summoned by the EOW. The brothers appeared at the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s office, where their statements were recorded. (With PTI inputs)
05 June,2025 03:45 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) leader Supriya Sule on Thursday said that she could not sign a letter demanding a special session of Parliament over the Pahalgam terror attack, as she was on a tour representing India as part of a multi-party delegation, reported the PTI. Addressing a press conference after her return from a four-nation tour, the MP from Baramati in Maharashtra's Pune district, said her party's stand was that there was no need for debate as 'Operation Sindoor' was still underway, as per the PTI. "When Parliament's monsoon session begins, we will be asking questions to the government on the Pahalgham attack and Operation Sindoor," Sule said. The government had sent multi-party delegations to several nations to highlight Pakistan's continued support for terrorism and India's response to the April 22 Pahalgram attack in the form of Operation Sindoor to destroy terror centres in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "I couldn't sign the letter demanding the special session of Parliament as I was on a tour representing the country. I have shown faith and trust in my country. The tour was productive, and the leadership of all four countries 'Qatar, South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia' expressed strong solidarity with India and condemned all acts of terrorism," Supriya Sule said, according to the PTI. All four countries share a close bond with India, which they consider 'the land of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi', she said, the news agency reported. Supriya Sule said that she had told Congress leaders that she would attend the INDIA bloc meetings after her return. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) is a constituent of the opposition grouping INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance). In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 16 opposition parties have demanded that a special session of Parliament be convened. The government on Wednesday said that the Monsoon session of Parliament will be held from July 21 to August 12. Meanwhile, on merger of NCP factions, Sule said that there has been no discussion or proposal on the two rival Nationalist Congress Party factions coming together. There is "no storm in a teacup", as is being made out, Supriya Sule told reporters here when asked about the buzz in political circles about the merger of the two NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and his estranged nephew Ajit Pawar. "You will see us in the (opposition) INDIA alliance meeting in the next few days when it is convened," said Sule. (with PTI inputs)
05 June,2025 02:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs SARS-CoV-2 cases begin to rise once again across the state and country, the threat posed by infectious diseases is far from over. Despite having endured multiple waves of COVID-19, the country’s preparedness to prevent or manage future outbreaks remains inadequate. “There is little evidence of the robust planning required to contain future surges,” said Dr Subhash Salunke, former director general of Public Health Services and ex-member of the state and ICMR COVID-19 task force. Speaking to mid-day, he warned of a troubling silence from government agencies and a lack of action on the ground, raising serious questions about whether citizens are being adequately informed by authorities to take the necessary precautions to prevent another COVID-19 outbreak. ‘Strain less severe’ “The current strain appears to be less severe, but complacency would be a mistake. Be alert, but don’t panic. We are entering a season marked by climatic changes. The monsoon brings lower temperatures and higher humidity, conditions known to facilitate sporadic viral outbreaks ,” he asked. Appropriate scientific surveillance The early detection of clusters, timely genomic sequencing, and widespread virological monitoring are essential. “Unfortunately, these efforts appear insufficient or even absent at both central and state levels,” said Dr Salunke. BMC health workers conduct a antigen tests for passengers at Dadar station on April 29, 2021. File Pic/Ashish Raje “The Union finance minister, in an earlier budget speech, spoke about setting up virology studies and genomic research institutes nationwide. But where are these initiatives on the ground? Where are the early warning systems? False sense of security “After declaring victory over COVID-19, we’ve allowed ourselves to fall into a false sense of security. While the government was credited for managing earlier waves, little has been done in terms of sustainable capacity building over the past four years. Preparedness must encompass the entire spectrum of communicable disease management — training of doctors, strengthening public health infrastructure, establishing case management protocols, and ensuring effective leadership.” said Dr Salunke. Virus mutation is natural “Viruses will continue to mutate, it’s a natural part of their life cycle. That’s why we need mechanisms to detect mutations early, respond promptly, and adapt vaccines when necessary,” said Dr Salunke. “Hospitals must be prepared, and medical staff must be trained to handle emerging infectious diseases. Yet, at the top levels of government, this is still being taken lightly,” he said. Higher risk in urban areas “We must be prepared to identify and contain clusters early, especially in urban areas where risks are higher and urban health is a complex issue partciularly in slum and slum like pockets, due to the dicatomy of control between the state public health department and state urban development department. For Urban development departmet, public health is not a priority at all. Do we have a clear action plan? Simply giving instructions is not enough; we need proactive implementation.”On the vaccine front, he said, “The vaccines developed earlier served their purpose. But unless we develop updated vaccines tailored to current and future variants, we risk being caught unprepared again. Herd immunity from natural infections has offered only temporary relief, it cannot be relied upon as a long-term strategy.” What’s next? “There is currently a lack of clearly defined protocols for vulnerable populations and that needs to change immediately,” said Dr. Salunke. “Pandemic preparedness is an ongoing process, not a one-time effort. We must stop waiting for a crisis to act. Instead, we must build systems that are always ready. Only then can we truly claim to be protecting our people and our future.”
05 June,2025 11:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonAs schools reopen for the new academic year, recent reports of rising COVID-19 cases have sparked concern among parents and healthcare professionals. Paediatricians are advising families to follow recommended safety protocols, and maintain good hygiene, especially since seasonal infections tend to increase during the monsoon. Dr Fazal Nabi, director of Paediatrics at Jaslok Hospital, said, “When we first began seeing COVID-19 symptoms in children, the initial cases were severe and raised significant concerns. However, at present, we’re not observing any severe paediatric cases. In fact, many paediatricians have stopped conducting extensive investigations for simple viral colds. These minor viral infections tend to be self-limiting and resolve within three days. Investigating them unnecessarily often causes undue stress to families.” “It is quite possible that we are encountering SARS-CoV-2 cases in children presenting with mild symptoms, but we are not always identifying them through laboratory testing. That said, our clinical approach now focuses more on symptom management and less on extensive testing unless,” Dr Nabi explained. Be alert While children may be handling these infections well, caution is still advised, particularly because children can inadvertently transmit infections to elderly family members or those with comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, or other age-related conditions. “Basic precautions like frequent handwashing, wearing masks when symptomatic, and avoiding sharing food, tiffin boxes, or water bottles can significantly reduce the risk of transmission. We’ve also seen infections spread more rapidly in closed environments with poor ventilation, such as air-conditioned rooms. Children often share glasses and bottles at school, and these habits can easily spread viruses. Even though the current SARS-CoV-2 pediatric cases aren't severe, children can still act as carriers of infection,” Dr Nabi added. “We emphasise symptomatic treatment, and in some cases, day-care observation. Education is also crucial, both for families and the medical fraternity. We must all stay informed and cautious to manage infections effectively,” he cautioned. Rise in gastro cases Currently, there has been an increase in gastroenteritis cases in the outpatient departments (OPDs) of hospitals. Past experiences with gastro outbreaks show that children are particularly vulnerable to seasonal infections that cause vomiting and diarrhoea. In such cases, the focus should be on adequate hydration and avoiding unnecessary antibiotics, as most of these infections are viral. Often, there is no lab confirmation of the specific virus causing the illness, but supportive care — including electrolyte management and symptomatic treatment — can be highly effective. Dr Nabi said, “Gastroenteritis is an acute intestinal infection marked by fever, vomiting, and loose motions associated with abdominal cramps. It usually lasts 3 to 5 days, but this season we’re seeing more atypical cases lasting beyond a week.” Red flag signs in gastro cases 1. Large, voluminous diarrhoea2. Extreme lethargy3. Listlessness4. Disorientation5. Decreased urine output6. Cold extremities despite warm core temperature IMA reacts Dr Santosh Kadam, president of IMA Maharashtra, said, “With the reopening of schools and the arrival of the monsoon, there is a natural rise in infections, including seasonal illnesses and cross-infections. While the current situation is not alarming, we must remain cautious and proactive. Parents, teachers, and students should follow basic COVID-appropriate and infection-prevention measures to ensure everyone’s safety.” “To reduce the spread of infections and maintain a healthier community, several preventive steps should be taken. These include wearing masks in crowded or enclosed spaces — especially for symptomatic children — practising good hand hygiene, and keeping sick children at home if they show symptoms like coughing, sneezing, or fever,” he said. “Additionally, ensuring that classrooms and school buses are well-ventilated can significantly limit the transmission of airborne illnesses. Children should also be encouraged to cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing. Staying up to date with vaccinations, including COVID-19 and flu shots, is crucial. Moreover, vulnerable individuals, such as those with weakened immunity, chronic illnesses, or those undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, must be protected by minimising their exposure and isolating when necessary. These simple yet effective actions can make a big difference in safeguarding public health,” Dr Kadam concluded.
05 June,2025 11:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonA 15-year-old girl who scored 94 per cent in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam was seriously injured after falling from a balcony into an open parking area on the premises of a tuition class in Ghatkopar East on May 14. The girl’s parents alleged that the balcony was dilapidated, while the staff of the facility claimed she lost her balance while clicking photos during the celebration of her results. Based on the parents’ complaint, the Pant Nagar police registered an FIR against a 38-year-old tutor, and other staff members for negligence. According to police officers, the incident occurred a day after the SSC results were declared, when around 150 students were invited to the centre to celebrate their academic performance. During the celebration, a dhol performance was underway in the parking lot. The girl’s mother, an employee of a reputed bank in Bandra Kurla Complex, told mid-day, “My daughter passed the board exams with excellent marks. She had been attending the tuition classes since Std IX. She informed me that a celebration was being organised on May 14 to honour the students who cleared Std X, and she attended the event.” “On the day of the incident, I received a call from her friend saying that my daughter had fallen from the balcony and had been admitted to the hospital. I rushed there and found she had fractured her right arm, and the left side of her head was swollen. There was a clot in her head as well. She is recovering now. The staff is responsible for the incident. They failed to repair the broken railing or install a safety mesh. I want justice for my daughter,” she added. Other side The 38-year-old tutor said, “Many of our SSC students scored over 90 per cent, and we organised a celebration for them. The girl went to the first floor to drink water. Some students were dancing in the parking area, and she was watching from the balcony. While clicking photos, she fell.” “This is a restricted area. We had even placed a printed notice on the balcony door stating that entry was prohibited. The girl is a bright student. We rushed her to the hospital and admitted her immediately. Our staff also supported her family. Five of our team members were present at the hospital to assist them,” he added. Senior Inspector Rajesh Kevale of the Pant Nagar police station said, “We have registered an FIR against the tutor and his staff under Sections 125, 125(A), and 125(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deal with endangering human life or personal safety. The investigation is ongoing.”
05 June,2025 11:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaThe monsoon arrived in Mumbai 10 days ago on May 26, leading to scenes of widespread waterlogging and the emergence of new waterlogging hotspots in the city, including several Metro Rail stations on the Aqua line. The downpour also resulted in waterlogging spots such as Hindmata (Dadar) and Gandhi Market (Sion) — which were already taken care of by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) — being affected. The BMC is still in the midst of wrapping up its pre-monsoon works, such as desilting of storm water drains and bringing existing road works to a ‘safe status’. Citizens have expressed concerns that the city is not prepared to face the monsoon, attributing this to a lack of planning and contingency measures by the civic body. According to BMC, it will take another 15 days to complete all pre-monsoon works. Silt removed from Shastri Nagar nullah left beside it. Pic/By Special Arrangement As per the internal status report received from BMC’s Storm Water Drains (SWD) Department, as of June 4, only 61 per cent of desilting work had been completed across the 18 km of Mithi River, as contractors abandoned the assigned job. Only 72 per cent of work has been completed on all minor nullahs across the city. Work has progressed well on major nullahs, with 105 per cent of the desilting work completed so far. Hotspots lag behind Several areas in Mumbai that have known waterlogging spots lag behind on their desilting progress. Only 69 per cent of desilting work has been completed on minor nullahs in the F/North ward covers Hindmata and Gandhi Market. Similarly, 68 per cent of desilting work has been completed for minor nullahs in Bandra East, and 66 per cent in Bandra West. In Kurla, which also witnesses widespread waterlogging, 55 per cent of desilting work has been completed. In Chembur and Govandi, 55 per cent and 52 per cent, respectively, has been completed on minor nullahs. Lack of planning Civic activist Nikhil Desai said, “Minor nullahs lead to hyper-local waterlogging. How will water drain off from a neighbourhood if its surrounding nullah is clogged?” According to Desai, there is no point in pouring so much money into pre-monsoon work if there is no planning. “On May 26, the entire Hindmata area was submerged in water because of this reason,” he said. Dhaval Shah, founder, Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association said, “About 10 days ago, BMC removed silt from Shastri Nagar nullah and kept it on the banks for drying. It rained soon after and all the silt drained back into the nullah. Moreover, the BMC has still not completed its work to reroute water from the Shastri Nagar nullah via a new extension through JP Road. Its absence leads to additional waterlogging in the area.” Official Speak Civic chief Bhushan Ghagrani said that a detailed contingency plan has kicked into action for Mithi River’s desilting work. For Mithi, work will go on for another 15 days, and BMC will ensure up to 85 per cent of desilting work is completed. “BMC is assigning separate contractors to complete the job, with a target of 15 days.” Sensitive areas have been identified in case of heavy downpour during this period. Ghagrani said, “Work is ongoing, but it meets frequent hurdles due to rain. We cannot transport wet silt and garbage as it is environmentally unsafe and economically unviable. We have to wait for it to dry. Minor nullahs do not pose a big challenge as cleaning can happen in these nullahs speedily. The downpour on May 26 gave us the chance to identify new waterlogging areas, and a head start to prepare for these spots also.” Deputy Chief Minister and Mumbai Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde directed the civic body to complete all monsoon-related work by June 7. As per information from the SWD Department, 520 dewatering pumps have been deployed across the city. The BMC incurred Rs 450 crore on monsoon preparedness, including money earmarked for cleaning drains, repairing potholes, and deploying dewatering pumps.
05 June,2025 11:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSBy 2030, Mumbai can hope for a better environment as the state government is confident of making the entire public transport system fully green and eliminating the use of fossil fuel and even putting an end to the release of untreated sewage into sea. Speaking on the eve of World Environment Day function organised in Bandra, CM Devendra Fadnavis emphasised on having a sustainable and clean environment. “Fossil fuel is one of the key contributors to pollution. By 2030, the Maharashtra government will ensure to eliminate the use of fossil fuel for the entire public transport fleet. All public transport fleets will be green,” the CM reiterated. Fadnavis stated that untreated sewage is being disposed of in the sea, but this needs to end. “We already have sewage treatment plants. But, in the next four years, the treatment plants will be brought to capacity to treat the entire sewage, so that no untreated water is discharged into the sea,” the CM mentioned the underlying importance of having a clean sea. As plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, Fadnavis urged citizens to avoid using plastic. “New technology is available for making biodegradable plastics. Such technology will play an important role in saving plastic,” Fadnavis added. Talking about the goal set by PM Narendra Modi to ensure that by 2030, 50 per cent of the total power consumed comes from renewable energy, Fadnavis said that Maharashtra will have 52 per cent of its power coming from renewable energy. “We will try to increase the contribution further,” the CM added. Earlier in the day, the Maharashtra government in one of its meetings decided to set a target of planting 10 crore trees this year. More importantly, this drive will not be limited to the planting of saplings. “We will be making use of geo-tagging and AI technology to monitor the growth of these trees,” Fadnavis said.
05 June,2025 10:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarChaotic celebrations turned into a full-blown tragedy as 11 people lost their lives and 33 others were injured outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium while trying to join a party inside to honour Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL triumph. Thousands converged outside the stadium as police struggled to take control of the situation, resorting to mild use of force as well. That did little to discourage the people, many of whom could be seen pressed against the stadium’s entrance gate, desperate to get in. Fans gather outside the stadium for RCB’s felicitation ceremony, while some can be seen pressed against the stadium’s entrance gate, yesterday The death toll is expected to rise as many of the seriously injured are being treated at the nearby Vydehi hospital and Bowring hospital. “Crowd was uncontrollable, police was finding it difficult, so we had to stop the procession,” Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said while speaking about the tragedy because of which a planned victory parade could not take place. The BCCI said the turn of events was shocking and the organisers should have been better prepared. “It’s most unfortunate, organisers should have planned RCB’s IPL-winning celebrations better,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI. “When one organises a victory celebration of this magnitude, proper precautions and security measures need to be taken,” he added. An aerial view of fans gathered during the RCB felicitation ceremony at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru, yesterday This was after the team landed in Bengaluru in the afternoon, received by Shivakumar at the airport. RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in the IPL final at Ahmedabad on Tuesday to clinch their maiden title in 18 years. Fans lined up the streets and thronged the Chinnaswamy stadium to catch a glimpse of the stars, including the talismanic Virat Kohli. A cop carries away a child injured in the stampede. Pics/PTI The scenes were a reminder of the historic welcome given to the T20 World Cup-winning Indian squad by Mumbai in July last year. However, things went haywire here. The much-anticipated open-top bus parade, which was allowed to proceed by Siddaramaiah from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium, could not take place as crowd became unmanageable for the police. The Bengaluru Traffic Police had already discouraged such a plan citing the congestion on the route. But outside the Chinnaswamy stadium, fans jostled to sneak inside and it ultimately turned into a tragedy. Thousands of fans were also seen waiting outside the Vidhana Soudha to cheer the players. Chaos erupts outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium The rainy weather in the city didn’t help. The police had already endured a torrid time managing the crowd that flooded the streets to celebrate the triumph last night. In visuals shared online, Kohli could be seen holding the trophy and watching in awe, thousands who lined up the team’s bus route, cheerfully waving at the convoy. Scathing attack The BJP and its allies on Wednesday slammed the Karnataka government for chaos. Opposition parties in the state, including the Janata Dal (Secular), have squarely blamed the Congress-led state government for what they describe as a complete failure of planning and public safety. BJP leader CT Ravi launched a scathing attack on the Karnataka government for the alleged deaths, calling it “state-sponsored”. “Unpredictable celebration... State-sponsored murder. The state government is responsible for this death,” Ravi stated in a post on X. Echoing the same sentiment, JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy issued a strongly worded statement condemning the administration for the lives lost, as alleged by the JDS leader. Calling the incident “criminal negligence”, Kumaraswamy further alleged that six people have lost their lives during the chaos, adding, “This is not just mismanagement; this is a complete collapse of basic administration.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 June,2025 10:41 AM IST | Bengaluru | AgenciesFormer Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa slammed the Congress government in the state after a stampede broke out outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the RCB IPL winning celebrations. Taking to X, Yediyurappa accused the Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, of failing to make adequate arrangements for the celebrations. He expressed great “sadness and dismay” over the incident. “During the celebration of the victory of the RCB team after winning the IPL, the shocking reports that more than 10 fans have died and many others have been injured in a stampede in Bengaluru have caused great sadness and dismay. Words cannot express the grief of the families of the fans who lost their lives in the tragedy. I request people to please exercise restraint and prioritise safety. I pray that the injured recover soon,” he posted in Kannada. The former Karnataka CM held the state government responsible for the tragedy and said that it could have been prevented by taking precautions. “Even though lakhs of fans were likely to attend, if they could not make arrangements, why did they allow the event? This incompetent government must be held responsible for the tragedy that could have been prevented,” he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 June,2025 10:07 AM IST | Bengaluru | Agencies‘Shocked. Disgraced’. That is how Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), termed the tragic incidents outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday evening, when triumph turned to tragedy in the bat of an eyelid, as he echoed the sentiments of millions in India and outside. Bengaluru had gone into celebratory mode from Tuesday night once Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were formally crowned IPL champions for the first time, after 17 unsuccessful attempts. An impromptu event in the celebrations, including fans, was organised for Wednesday. The team had not even reached its hotel when more than 25,000 people had gathered outside the stadium, desperately looking for a way in. This was a little after 3 pm; the ‘event’ wasn’t for at least a couple more hours. Screams of ‘RCB’ and ‘Kohli Kohli’ made for a festive atmosphere, though one couldn’t shake off the unmistakable feeling that something grim was about to unfold. As the crowds milled and the jostling and shoving intensified, an inevitable stampede unfolded. Several lives were lost, and numerous other fans were injured and rushed to hospitals in the vicinity. Not all of them were transported in ambulances; the distinct lack of preparedness was evident in people running out of the stadium holding unconscious supporters in their arms. Those inside the stadium seemed insulated from the horrific events outside. They celebrated with gusto when the players lined up on the dressing room balcony to hold the trophy aloft, and they hit peak decibel levels when Virat Kohli attempted to speak a few words. For a full five minutes, Bengaluru’s most famous adopted son waited patiently with a smile, struggling to keep his emotions in check. Wish those outside had shown the same patience. Wish those who decided to put on this show at such short notice had shown the same patience instead of rushing to put this show together at terribly short notice. This isn’t the time to play the blame game, but those responsible for this turn of events must be held accountable. It won’t bring back lives tragically, needlessly snatched away, but it will go a long way in ensuring that there are no repeat disasters. How do you console a family member who lost their kin for no reason? Celebrations of sporting successes aren’t meant to end this way. Not in unchecked tears of loss, needless catastrophe.
05 June,2025 08:41 AM IST | Bengaluru | R KaushikADVERTISEMENT
