Days after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) laid out a six-point manifesto for heartfelt and meaningful auction after the tragic Chinnaswamy stampede, which occurred on June 04 after RCB's victory celebrations, Virat Kohli for the first time broke his silence on the events, admitting that nothing ever had prepared him for the disappointing & shocking events which happened on June 04, which killed 11 people.
Notably, RCB had spoken about the event that unfolded after two months, which also left 40 fans injured. What was supposed to be RCB's most special day in their 18 years of IPL turned somber when total civic sense was lost, as close to 2.5 lakh people tried to enter Chinnaswamy Stadium, which led to a stampede and chaos.
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"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," Virat Kohli said in a statement shared by the franchise.
"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."
What happened on June 4 that led to RCB's six-page manifesto?
Kohli was leading the celebrations at the Chinnaswamy Stadium when the news broke about the tragic stampede outside the ground. As soon as the players got to know about the chaos happening, RCB cut short their celebrations. Earlier in the day, the Rajat Patidar-led side were also felicitated by Chief Minister N Siddarmaiah in an open-air ceremony. Notably, the stampede happened because of the open-bus parade.
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The Karnataka police apparently denied permission for RCB to host the event. Lakhs of fans present outside Chinnaswamy stadium gathered to celebrate with their beloved players, but eventually it never happened. RCB also on August 30, made an announcement INR 25 lakh each for the families of the deceased in the stampede, and help for the 40 people injured. Initially, RCB had only stated INR 10 lakh, but increased the amount after announcing RCB Cares - an initiative with which they plan for meaningful causes.
For the unversed, RCB also announced a six-point manifesto which goes beyond the compensation for those injured in the heartbreaking stampede.
- Beyond financial aid: Fast, transparent, and humane support for affected fans and families.
- Safe & inclusive spaces: Work with authorities and partners to improve crowd management.
- Empower communities: Launch social programmes, starting with Karnataka’s Siddi community.
- Invest in safety: Annual fan-safety audits and training for on-ground partners.
- Honour fans: Dedicated space in Bengaluru to remember RCB’s most passionate supporters.
- Build futures: Create in-stadia jobs, nurture local talent, and support future sports professionals.
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Notably, after the June 04 tragic stampede incident outside Chinnaswamy ground, the iconic venue has been deemed unfit to host massive-scale events after the verdict of a one-panel investigation by the state-government-formed panel. It was also about to host five ICC Women's ODI World Cup games, which were moved out. Even games for the Maharaja T20 Trophy were not scheduled at the iconic stadium.
