Fatal Fandom

The tragic deaths of 11 people in Bengaluru on June 4 during the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) IPL victory celebrations are not just an unfortunate accident — they are the direct result of systemic apathy, political expediency, and an endemic failure to plan for public safety.

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Chinnaswamy Stadium's official capacity is around 35,000. Yet, an estimated 2 to 3 lakh people poured into the area, many of them desperate to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes. Entry to the stadium was "by invitation only," a term that should have triggered red flags across government departments. It did not. And therein lies the real problem. This was not an unanticipated mob; it was a foreseeable surge.