Ground Report: Grieving mother on Bengaluru stampede
The tragedy that unfolded at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on August 29, 2022, has left a trail of devastation and heartbreak in its wake. The stampede, which occurred during the felicitation ceremony of the city’s IPL-winning team, claimed the lives of at least 10 people and left many more injured. Amidst the chaos and confusion, one family’s story stands out as a poignant reminder of the human cost of such tragedies.
Prajwal, a young man who had recently landed a job, was ecstatic about the IPL victory. He had promised his mother that he would return home to celebrate with the family, but fate had other plans. As he joined the crowd outside the stadium to felicitate his favourite team, he never returned to keep his promise.
Two days later, his mother, Appu, received a devastating blow. She saw a photograph of a single hand sticking out from the debris, and her worst fears were confirmed. Her son, Prajwal, was among the victims of the stampede.
Appu’s account of the tragedy is a heart-wrenching tale of a mother’s grief and a system’s failure. In an exclusive interview with The South First, Appu broke down as she recounted the events of that fateful day.
“I was waiting at home, expecting Prajwal to come back with a smile on his face, but he never came,” Appu said, her voice cracking with emotion. “I thought maybe he was stuck in traffic or something, but as the hours passed, my anxiety grew. I started calling his friends and colleagues, but nobody knew where he was.”
As the news of the stampede began to spread, Appu’s worst fears were confirmed. She rushed to the hospital, where she was told that Prajwal was among the victims. The sight of his lifeless body, and the realization that he would never come home again, was too much for her to bear.
Appu’s grief is not just about the loss of her son; it’s also about the sense of abandonment and betrayal she feels towards the system. “The authorities said they did everything they could, but I know they didn’t,” she said, her voice dripping with anger. “If they had taken proper measures to ensure crowd control, my Appu would be alive today. He was a young man with his whole life ahead of him, and now he’s gone because of their negligence.”
The South First team spoke to several eyewitnesses and survivors of the stampede, who corroborated Appu’s account. Many of them spoke about the chaos and confusion that ensued as the crowd surged forward, and the lack of adequate crowd control measures in place.
The Bengaluru Police have launched an investigation into the incident, and several officials have been placed under suspension. However, for Appu and many others like her, the damage has already been done. The tragedy has left a deep scar, and the healing process will be long and arduous.
As Appu grieves the loss of her son, she is also fighting for justice. “I want the authorities to take responsibility for their actions, or lack thereof,” she said. “I want them to make sure that such tragedies never happen again. My Appu may be gone, but I will make sure that his memory lives on, and that his death is not in vain.”
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of crowd control measures and the need for emergency preparedness. It also highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency in the way authorities respond to such tragedies.
As Appu’s story illustrates, the human cost of such tragedies is immeasurable. It’s not just about numbers and statistics; it’s about the families who are left behind, struggling to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.
In the end, Appu’s story is a testament to the power of human resilience and the importance of never giving up in the face of adversity. As she continues to fight for justice and to keep her son’s memory alive, she is also an inspiration to all of us to never forget the importance of human life and to always strive for a better world.
