Fans complain of mismanagement and health concerns due to overcrowding during Team India's victory parade in Mumbai - Reports
The fans congregated in Marine Drive had a harrowing experience during Team India's open bus victory parade as there were numerous cases of injuries reported after the event. A section of people even complained of suffocation and blamed the police force for not tackling the situation efficiently.
Before the Men in Blue were anywhere close to the site, the streets were jam-packed. Even the bus for the victory parade was stuck outside the stadium on its way to collect the players from the airport.
According to a report by ANI, one fan lost consciousness during the proceedings and blamed the police for not managing the event well. An eye-witness confirmed the same while adding that things were unorganized after a point in time.
“The crowd was increasing. I fell and got choked. I became unconscious. I was taken to the nearby hospital, where I received treatment. I feel fine now. The crowd was more than necessary. There was mismanagement. The police were also not alert," the fan who collapsed told ANI.
"I was coming from the office and came to know that the Indian team would reach here between 5 pm and 6 pm which did not happen. The crowd kept increasing. The police were not managing the situation. People suddenly started shouting, after which some people fell on each other. It was very unorganised. There was nobody to manage. The incident happened between 8:15 and 8:45 pm,” an eye-witness stated.
The open bus victory parade included a lot of memorable moments like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma lifting the trophy together, while players also thanked the fans for coming.
Team India reported to the Wankhede Stadium for a felicitation ceremony and a lap of honor after the victory parade
The victory parade on Marine Drive came to an end after the squad made it to the Wankhede Stadium.
The players and support staff were honored at the ceremony while the players took a lap of honor with the Indian flag. Some of the members began dancing as well to mark the memorable evening.
"This trophy is for the entire nation. Along with all the players who have represented the country, we want to dedicate it to our fans, who have waited for 11 years. Mumbai never disappoints. We got a solid reception. On behalf of the team, we would like to thank the fans. I am very, very happy and relieved," Rohit Sharma said at the Wankhede Stadium (via Livemint).
Select members of the Indian side, hailing from Maharashtra, will be meeting with the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday, July 5. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, has reportedly left for London after the culmination of the event in Mumbai.