Indian authorities have made four arrests following a deadly stampede at a victory celebration for the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket champions, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), that left 11 people dead and 47 injured.
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The incident occurred on Wednesday when a massive crowd gathered outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru despite the event being limited to 35,000 people due to the venue's capacity. However, police reported that 200,000 to 300,000 fans had shown up.
Those arrested include an RCB official, as well as individuals from the event organizing company and the state cricket association. They face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. There have also been calls for senior police officers to be held accountable.
The tragedy has sparked questions about the safety measures in place for such events, especially given the substantial wealth of the IPL. The league secured a five-year global broadcast rights deal for $6.2 billion in 2022, making it one of the most lucrative sports tournaments in the world.
The RCB had offered $11,655 to the families of the deceased victims, but many in India are demanding greater accountability from the cricket league and event organizers. The Indian Express newspaper called for those in charge to be held responsible, saying, "The world's richest cricket tournament can't cut corners when it comes to fans' safety."
The victims of the stampede were mostly men between the ages of 14 and 49. The event had been organized to allow fans to see the players and celebrate the team's victory in the T20 format tournament.