NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain
Rajat Patidar on Wednesday delivered a heartfelt message to fans, breaking his silence on the tragic stampede that marred the franchise's title celebrations in June outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The tragedy, which unfolded during RCB's victory parade after clinching their maiden IPL trophy, left 11 people dead and 75 injured, casting a dark shadow over what should have been a historic moment of joy.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Patidar's words, shared via RCB's official social media handles, struck an emotional chord: “Every time I walk out for RCB, it's with passion, and that passion comes from you. From your love, your belief, and your unwavering support. You've always stood by us. And from the bottom of my heart, I want you to know that we stand with you too. You've all been in my thoughts and prayers. With all of us holding on to each other, we'll find our strength again.”
His statement followed that of former skipper
Virat Kohli, who earlier admitted that the tragedy had shaken him deeply. “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,” Kohli said on the franchise's website.
RCB also announced a Rs 25 lakh compensation package for the families of the victims, a memorial in Bengaluru to honour the fans, and a six-point safety manifesto to prevent similar incidents in future.
A judicial commission led by retired Karnataka High Court judge Justice Michael D'Cunha later held the organisers responsible for violating safety protocols. Following the report, the stadium was deemed unfit for large-scale events, leading to Women's World Cup matches being shifted to Navi Mumbai and the Maharaja T20 Trophy moved to Mysuru.
The Karnataka government has since placed the onus on RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and event managers DNA Entertainment Networks for lapses in planning and execution.
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