Bengaluru stampede: Lone IPS officer, team battled crowd as chaos unfolded at Chinnaswamy stadium

At Gate 17, a lone security guard struggled to manage the rapidly growing crowd. When some people forced their way in, there was overwhelming pressure on the gate, causing a crush that led to a stampede that killed 11 people.

DCP Adavath, who arrived late due to traffic, immediately grabbed a lathi and charged into the crowd, risking his safety to regain control, according to his subordinates. After several attempts, he managed to close the gate from inside.

He and his team then moved towards Gates 18 and 19, lathi-charging the crowd. This intervention ensured that Gate 19 remained stampede-free. But by then, five people had already collapsed near Gate 17 and were rushed for medical care.

While the Bengaluru police have yet to officially reveal how many police officials were deployed at the stadium, sources said Adavath and his team had to control the crowd on their own for nearly an hour.

A significant delay in police reinforcements exacerbated the situation. By the time backup arrived, 11 people had lost their lives, and more than 50 were injured. DCP Adavath, who sustained a hand injury and showed signs of low blood pressure and arrhythmia, was admitted to Ramaiah Hospital and is currently under observation. Officials in his team escaped without injuries.