Chaos in ICC T20 Cricket World Cup Victory Parade: Fans Faint, Children Lost, Traffic Grinds to Halt in Mumbai
Mumbai, 5th July 2024: Traffic in south Mumbai came to a standstill on Thursday evening as large crowds of cricket enthusiasts gathered at Marine Drive and Wankhede Stadium to join Team India’s victory parade. Amid the celebrations, however, some fans suffered health issues due to the humidity, leading to a few collapsing and others sustaining minor injuries. Additionally, approximately a dozen children became separated from their families during the event.
Quick response from the police ensured the safety of these children; they were promptly located and brought to the Marine Drive police station where their details were recorded. Concerned parents rushed to the station, relieved to find their children safe. Efforts were also made to contact the families of other children whose parents were not immediately located.
Dr. Jitendra Sankpal, medical superintendent at GT Hospital near CSMT, reported that nine individuals were admitted with complaints ranging from dizziness to minor wounds. A pregnant woman who fell during the celebrations was taken to Cama Hospital. Additional cases were managed at St. George’s, Nair, and Bombay hospitals.
Police officers also intervened to assist those who fainted by ensuring they had access to fresh air. Some female attendees expressed concerns about the potential for a stampede amidst the large crowd.
The festivities caused significant disruptions to vehicular traffic not only on Marine Drive but also on nearby roads like Maharshi Karve Road, Madame Cama Road, and Shahid Bhagat Singh Road. Congestion was also observed on Mahapalika Marg and DN Road near CSMT.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde instructed Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar to take necessary measures to minimize traffic disruptions and ensure the comfort of cricket fans gathered at Marine Drive and Wankhede Stadium.
