Underlining that he can't express the pain that "we are suffering" over the deaths in a crowd crush outside a Bengaluru stadium as tens of thousands turned up to cheer Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title win in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar told NDTV that "we are very sorry".
Eleven people died in the stampede as the celebratory event turned funereal.
"Can't express the pain that I am suffering. Never expected this to happen. Entire state was watching. We are very sorry," said Mr Shivakumar, adding that he does not want to politicise the issue.
Thousands had packed the streets Wednesday to welcome home their hero Virat Kohli and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after they had beaten Punjab Kings a day earlier in a thrilling Indian Premier League final.
Attorney General of Karnataka in the state High Court highlighted that there was enough police deployment on the spot, but more people than expected, around 2.5 lakh people, gathered near the stadium on Wednesday.
"I don't want to find fault with others or politicise the issue which BJP and JDS are doing. Have to rectify what went wrong. At the same time, all our part of our family. We will join with them in this grief. I have a cabinet meeting on this issue," said Mr Shivakumar, refusing to be part of any blame game.
All the victims of the stampede tragedy at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy stadium are under 40, with a 14-year-old girl being the youngest.
"For me the lives of the people, of youngsters is very important," said Mr Shivakumar
Pressed to answer if the government was in a hurry or the organisers to host the event, Mr Shivakumar said: "I don't want to blame anyone or make anyone accountable. The BJP has raised numerous questions. We will not run away. We will reply to them. The RCB has come out with a statement. Even the Police Commissioner has said he did not issue any permission. For me, the lives of people are important... I am looking at that."
Asked if the government is planning to issue guidelines to prevent future accidents, he said," Of course to solve these types of issues. Definitely, I will come up with a plan."
Earlier, reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah drew comparisons with other tragedies such as the Kumbh Mela stampede.
"Many such stampedes have occurred. Even worse ones have happened. I am not defending this, but similar incidents occurred during the Kumbh Mela, where around 50 to 60 people died," Siddaramaiah had said.
