Mumbai erupted in a massive celebration on Thursday as hundreds of thousands of ecstatic fans thronged Marine Drive to witness Team India's T20 World Cup victory parade. An estimated 300,000 supporters swarmed the streets, eager to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes. Despite the deployment of around 5,000 police personnel across Marine Drive and Wankhede Stadium, the sheer size of the crowd proved challenging to manage. Unfortunately, the joyous occasion was marred by a few incidents. Several fans faced difficulties amidst the throng, with some experiencing injuries and health issues. Reports indicate that at least ten people required medical attention. Reportedly, a total of 11 fans were rushed to the nearest government hospital, with injuries ranging from a fractured bone to breathing difficulties. Officials elaborated that nine individuals were admitted to the state-run GT Hospital due to injuries or breathing problems caused by overcrowding. Fortunately, all are reported to be in stable condition.
Another fan received treatment at St. George's Hospital near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus before being released. Additionally, one person was treated at a private hospital in south Mumbai before being discharged.
“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 progressively swelled. 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 8.15-8.45 pm,” Eyewitness Ravi Solanki described the chaos to news agency ANI.
India's cricket team's T20 World Cup victory was celebrated with a grand parade and felicitation ceremony. The celebratory roadshow traveled from Nariman Point to Wankhede Stadium, where the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hosted a special event.
Wankhede Stadium itself was packed with enthusiastic fans. The Maharashtra Cricket Association opened the gates for free entry, allowing a massive crowd of 40,000 to witness the celebrations. During the BCCI ceremony, India's captain, Rohit Sharma, expressed his gratitude to the entire nation and dedicated the T20 World Cup victory to the Indian people.
The victory itself was a hard-fought battle. In the final match against South Africa, India chose to bat first and set a challenging target of 176 runs. Virat Kohli played a key role, scoring a remarkable 76 runs off just 59 balls. South Africa put up a valiant effort, but ultimately fell short, managing only 169 runs. Hardik Pandya's exceptional bowling performance in the final over, taking 3 wickets for just 20 runs, sealed India's win.
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