New developments in the tragic Bengaluru stampede, which claimed 11 lives, have been making headlines across the country. A heartbreaking video from Karnataka’s Hassan district has gone  viral, showing a father mourning the loss of his 21-year-old son who was among the 11 victims of the Bengaluru stampede.

The emotional visuals capture BT Lakshman, father of Bhumik Lakshman, sobbing uncontrollably at his son’s grave, saying, “I don’t want to go anywhere now. I want to stay here too,” as he lies flat on the ground.

Who was Bhumik Lakshman?

According to reports, Bhumik was a final-year engineering student. He was one of the thousands who gathered outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic IPL win. The celebrations, however, turned tragic when a stampede broke out, claiming 11 lives and injuring 56 others. Among the deceased were several young adults and at least one minor.

“No Father Should Go Through This”

BT Lakshman’s anguish has struck a chord across the country. In the viral clip, he can be seen surrounded by fellow villagers, with two men attempting to console him and lift him from the grave. “The land I had bought for him is where his memorial has been built,” Mr Lakshman says, surrounded by villagers as two men gently try to lift him to his feet. “What happened to my son should not happen to anyone. No father should have to face what I am facing.”

Earlier, Lakshman had pleaded with authorities not to conduct a post-mortem on his son. “I had only one son, and I have lost him. Please don’t cut his body into pieces. Let me take him as he is,” he told reporters, tears streaming down his face.

“The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister may visit us (the victims of the tragedy), but they can’t bring him back,” he had said, fighting tears.

BJP Slams Congress Over Crowd Mismanagement

The incident has triggered a political firestorm in Karnataka. The opposition BJP has taken aim at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, accusing them of prioritising political optics over public safety.

A tweet from the party’s official handle reads, “Murderous CM @siddaramaiah sir, murderous DCM @DKShivakumar sir, if you had made up your mind, you could have taken a photo with your children and grandchildren in a luxurious hotel with a cup. But your insistence on taking a photo on the steps of the Vidhana Soudha has made 11 families wash their hands in tears every day. Can you give this father his son back, sitting in front of his son’s grave and crying?!”

Congress Accuses BJP of Politicising Tragedy

The ruling Congress has pushed back against BJP’s criticism, accusing the opposition of exploiting the tragedy for political gain. The state government has promised support to the victims’ families and vowed to ensure such incidents are not repeated.

On Saturday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah increased the compensation for the victims’ families from ₹10 lakh to ₹25 lakh.

Police Action and Administrative Fallout

In the wake of the tragedy, the Bengaluru Police arrested four individuals in connection with the incident. Five senior police officials, including the city’s Police Commissioner, have been suspended.

Additionally, the Karnataka government has sacked CM Siddaramaiah’s political secretary, K Govindaraj, and removed the state intelligence department chief, signalling administrative accountability.

Event Organisers Under Legal Scrutiny

The police have also filed an FIR against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise, event management firm DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd., and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). Two RCB members were arrested for alleged event mismanagement.

KSCA has approached the Karnataka High Court, seeking to quash the FIR. In its petition, the association argued that it was only responsible for venue rental and not crowd management, blaming the state government for organising the celebratory event.

A Celebration Turned Catastrophe

The IPL 2025 victory celebration, intended to be a moment of joy after RCB’s 18-year wait for the championship title, turned into a deadly disaster. While official investigations continue, the grief of families like that of Bhumik Lakshman highlights the personal devastation behind the numbers.