Crowd surge at Ranchi cricket stadium injures spectators

A crowd surge outside a cricket stadium in Ranchi on Tuesday evening injured several spectators and prompted a major emergency response and official investigation. The incident occurred at the West Gate of the JSCA International Cricket Stadium in Dhurwa ahead of the final match of the Jharkhand Premier League.

According to Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ranjan, the chaos was triggered by inadequate entry procedures. He stated that only one gate was open for public entry, causing a sudden surge in the crowd. The slow pace of security frisking compounded the pressure, leading to a brief period where the crowd became unruly. Police intervened and brought the situation under control. Ranjan confirmed that four to five people were injured and received medical treatment.

Eyewitnesses described a scene of poor crowd management, with thousands of fans facing long queues hours before the match. As pressure built, pushing and jostling began, and some frustrated attendees allegedly attempted to climb boundary walls and security barricades to force entry. The crowd reportedly broke through the West Gate and damaged barricades before police reinforcements pushed them back....