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Eleven people have been killed and <\/b>dozens injured in a crush outside a cricket stadium in Bengaluru, which was hosting a victory parade to celebrate the home team’s Indian Premier League win, the state’s chief minister said. <\/p>\n
Thousands of people had lined the streets on Wednesday to welcome the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) who beat the Punjab Kings in the IPL cricket final the day before. <\/p>\n
Karnataka state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters that authorities had not expected the number of people who had turned out.<\/p>\n
One police official told the BBC more than 200,000 people came out for the victory parade but they had anticipated only half that amount.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
When the tragedy struck, the gates of the stadium “were not even opened, but there were so many people trying to push through a small gate that the stampede took place”, an official said.<\/p>\n
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “mishap in Bengaluru is heartrending” adding that his “thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones”.<\/p>\n
State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he was “deeply shocked by the tragic loss of lives”.<\/p>\n
“A moment of joy has been eclipsed by sorrow,” he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The RCB team had arrived by a special flight at the old HAL airport to be received by Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. They were taken in a procession to the hotel.<\/p>\n
This was a precursor for the reception on the steps of the majestic Vidhana Soudha, seat of the state legislature, where Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other ministers met the team.<\/p>\n
The team was then scheduled to drive, again, in a procession to the stadium before the crush occurred. <\/p>\n
The team, however, reached the stadium for a brief reception where cricket legend Virat Kohli spoke. “There was a huge crowd inside,” one eyewitness, who did not want to share his name, told BBC Hindi.<\/p>\n
Prior to the incident, masses of people from different parts of the city had moved towards the stadium on all modes of transport wearing RCB jerseys. <\/p>\n
Metro trains were so packed that several people – including this reporter – were not able to enter any compartment. All this while passengers inside the train and outside chanted the team’s name in chorus.<\/p>\n
Auto rickshaws and taxis did not respond to requests from people who wanted to be dropped anywhere near the stadium. Those who agreed dropped commuters several kilometres away.<\/p>\n
After reports of people losing their lives in the crush spread, people started rushing away to metro stations. <\/p>\n
Authorities shut down the stations around the stadium as huge crowds had gathered on the platforms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n