CM Pulls Up Police Top Brass Over Stadium Stampede

'If senior officer conveyed accurate info, we could've cancelled it'

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Bengaluru

When a chief minister speaks, the subordinates listen.

"I've been an MLA since 1983 and have served as Chief Minister before. I have never witnessed such a delay in response in an incident like the recent stampede in Bengaluru. What is the purpose of having an intelligence department if it fails to provide comprehensive and timely information? Due to this lapse, 11 people lost their lives. On the day of the stampede, deaths had occurred as early as 3.50 pm. Yet, accurate information was not conveyed. Isn't this a serious lapse? Even when I inquired at 5.45 pm, I was told only one person had died. By then, 11 people had already passed away. If the senior officer had promptly conveyed accurate information, we could have cancelled the stadium event. I am also upset that we had to suspend senior officials. But isn't it true that there was indeed a failure on their part?"