Fans allegedly suffer breathing issues and injuries during Team India's T20 World Cup victory march in Mumbai

Cricket fever of the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024 transformed into a sea of jubilation when Team India after landing in the country's financial capital, decided to carry on an open bus top convoy in a bid to celebrate becoming the world champions with all the cricket frenzy fans.

Notably, the apex cricket governing body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), had planned to have an open bus celebration similar to what the MS Dhoni-led Blue Brigade did back in 2007 when team India lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup. However, amid celebrations, some fans had to go through some unpleasant experiences. Cricket lovers who had gathered at the iconic Marine Drive in Mumbai on Thursday (July 4) revealed that many got unconscious due to poor arrangements and management by the Mumbai police.

Furthermore, a fan named Ravi Solanki claimed that he faced breathing difficulties as the crowd surged with time and they got choked due to crowd intensity. Hence he minced no words and blamed the cops for not managing the situation efficiently and as a result, everything led to chaos. Team India started their bus convoy from the National Centre of Performing Arts (NCPA) situated in Nariman Point to the renowned Wankhede Stadium. Besides, many slippers and other footwear were thronging the streets which portrayed the possible chaotic scene which may have emerged during the procession.

“I was coming from the office and came to know that the Indian team would reach here between 5 pm-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 pm and 8:45 pm,” Solanki was quoted as saying by the ANI.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Footwear scattered everywhere at Mumbai's Marine Drive after the T20 World Cup victory parade.

According to Mumbai Police, the conditions of several fans gathered had deteriorated- some got injured and some had trouble breathing. pic.twitter.com/PvHjZKfPrn

— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2024

Yet another cricket fan named Rishab Mahesh Yadav too narrated the situation which got created during the victory march recalled that after fainting on the spot, he was fortunately taken to a hospital for a quick treatment. Thereafter recovered as his health steadied but certainly seemed disappointed with how the police handled the parade and the crowd. Notably, from 3 pm onwards the crowd started piling in South Mumbai. During the victory parade, they were dancing to celebrate India's T20 World Cup victory as the Men in Blue ended their 11-year drought to claim an ICC World Cup trophy.

“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 disappointed fan recalled.

Also Read: Fan climbs tree branch during India's victory parade at Marine Drive, video goes viral

Team India were stuck in Barbados, met Prime Minister Modi after landing in New Delhi

Besides, Team India were stuck in Barbados due to Cyclone Beryl which only left the fans waiting eagerly for their World Cup heroes quite longer than they had anticipated. Hence once the Rohit Sharma-led side landed in Mumbai after meeting Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, earlier in the day, fans became quite ecstatic while cheering for the Indian players.

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Moreover, from time to time they requested the iconic players to lift the sparkling World Cup trophy in the air to which the players duly obliged as a mark of showing the immense appreciation and support by the fans for Team India by turning up in large numbers.