‘Lives were lost unnecessarily’ – Former Indian World Cup winner slams RCB’s victory parade that caused stampede

Former Indian World Cup winner Madan Lal has expressed his dismay over the stampede that took place in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first ever IPL title on Tuesday night by beating Punjab Kings by six runs. There was massive outpouring of emotions that was seen on and off the field after RCB won the title. 

Goa Herald quoted the former Indian pacer as saying “You celebrated in Ahmedabad the previous night—what was the rush to organize a grand event in Bengaluru the next day? Eleven lives were lost unnecessarily”. What was supposed to a historic night turned tragic as 11 fans tragically lost their lives with close to 50 injured in stampede. 

Madan Lal’s teammate meanwhile, Syed Kirmani said “The fans of our times were not as crazy as fans of today, and especially in the IPL, the crazy fans are unimaginable, particularly as you could see lakhs and lakhs were around just to get a glimpse of these great heroes,"

India’s former wicketkeeper also added “My condolences to bereaved families. This was a deadly welcome to IPL champions. In our times, there was no such media hype and there was no TV and there was no such thing which could lead to such things”

Atul Wassan gives his view on tragic incident 

Former Indian pacer was also left shocked after the entire incident that transpired on Wednesday. The former seamer said that had the players known what was taken place they would have opted to walk out of the event. Wassan also said that it was a chance for players especially Virat Kohli to repay the fans for their love and support. 

The former seamer  during his chat with ANI said “Virat was paying it back to the fans. I cannot believe in a million years that Virat – I have known him as a kid, as a person – knew that people are dying outside, and the felicitation was going inside. The politicians, I can believe, because they are ruthless, thick-skinned”

“They are mercenaries and as is the corporate, which is the RCB franchise. They don't care because they have to show the balance sheets. They have to show revenue. They would have known so it was a lack of communication. By the time the players would have gotten to know, they didn't have any say in it. If they did, they would have immediately walked out," Atul Wassan ended by saying to ANI.