Had it not been for the coordinated efforts of the city police and security agencies, Mumbai's grand open-bus parade in July last year, celebrating India’s second T20 World Cup win, might have mirrored the tragedy that unfolded in Bengaluru this week. The Mumbai Police, along with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), executed a massive public gathering with military precision, ensuring the event unfolded seamlessly despite the overwhelming turnout.

Bengaluru became the site of a devastating tragedy on Wednesday afternoon. What began as a joyous gathering to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL title descended into chaos, culminating in a deadly stampede near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives, most of them young fans. Scattered across the site were heartbreaking reminders, at one end, mounds of shoes and sandals lay in disarray, while, at the other, torn merchandise and abandoned sports apparel served as silent witnesses to the tragedy.

The incident stood in stark contrast to Mumbai’s July 4 celebration last year, where over three lakh blue-clad supporters, men, women, and children, lined the iconic Marine Drive and Wankhede Stadium. Despite the staggering crowd, not a single major mishap was reported. A well-calibrated system of barricading, timely public announcements, and real-time crowd monitoring played a decisive role in ensuring order.