Government Committee Declares Chinnaswamy Stadium 'Unsafe for Large-Scale Events'

Stadium Found Unfit to Host Large Crowds

Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been declared "unsafe for large-scale events" by the Justice John Michael D'Cunha Commission. The panel's findings, submitted to the government, cast doubt over the stadium's eligibility to host marquee events.

Key Findings

• The stadium's design and structure are unsuitable and unsafe for mass gatherings.
• Inadequate entry and exit gates, lack of holding areas for crowds, and poor security management contributed to the stampede.
• The commission recommends relocating events that attract large crowds to venues better suited for such gatherings.
• The stadium should adhere to international standards, including purpose-built queuing and circulation zones, adequate entry/exit gates, and emergency evacuation plans.

Blame Laid on Organizers

The report puts the blame squarely on the organizers, stressing that "reckless announcement" about the entry for the RCB celebrations was the main reason for the unfortunate turn of events.

• The organizers failed to regulate entry into the gates and made reckless announcements, leading to the stampede.
• The event was unauthorized, hastily organized, and lacked proper security, crowd control, or emergency arrangements.
• The commission recommends action against RCB vice-president Rajesh Menon, DNA Networks MD T. Venkat Vardhan, and KSCA president Raghuram Bhat, among others.

Government Response

The Karnataka cabinet has formally accepted the findings of the commission, and the government is preparing further legal action based on the report.