'Couldn't have allowed a stampede': IPL chairman Arun Dhumal opens up on evacuating Dharamsala stadium

IPL chairman Arun Dhumal opens up on evacuating Dharamsala stadium

It was during the first strategic timeout that IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal realised the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala could not continue.

Air raid sirens had gone off in two neighbouring cities — one of them less than 100 km away — and 25,000 spectators were in the stands, unaware of the emerging security concerns.

On one of his "most challenging days" as a cricket administrator, Dhumal had to oversee the safe evacuation of the crowd and ensure that the players remained unaffected by the unfolding situation.

Floodlights were dimmed and eventually turned off, as a blackout protocol was activated after drone attacks from Pakistan targeted Pathankot (85 km from Dharamsala) and Jammu (a little over 197 km away).

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Initial announcements attributed the lights going off to a technical snag — a deliberate strategy to avoid panic among the spectators.

"...when the announcement was made on the public address system about floodlights going off, people didn't want to leave," Dhumal recalled in an interview to PTI.

"We had to ensure that the evacuation of spectators happened without pressing the panic button. We couldn't have allowed a stampede," he added.

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All available evidence suggests that Dhumal, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, and local police managed the situation efficiently, with the stadium being emptied in under 30 minutes.

"...you need to understand that the match was very exciting in the manner Punjab was batting... The entire operation wouldn't have been possible without the help of the local police and district administration. They did a splendid job," said Dhumal, a native of the state.

He was seen in the stands alongside Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta, urging fans to leave the stadium. Dharamsala serves as the secondary home venue for the Punjab franchise.

The IPL was suspended for a week on Friday due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

Was it the most challenging night of his tenure as IPL chairman? Not quite, according to Dhumal.

"...we had big challenge during COVID-19 when tournament was stopped midway. But yesterday's challenge was different as we had to stop a live game due to security protocol."

"Ensuring that everything happened smoothly in quickest possible time was a challenge. But we had an abiding crowd that also responded to our call," Dhumal said, giving credit to the cooperative audience for following instructions.

The IPL Chairman also described how the match's suspension was executed by the IPL operations team and the local district administration within a critical 10-minute window.

"It was during the first strategic timeout that I was intimated about the blackout protocol. We had little time but I quickly informed the top officials of both DC and Punjab management that lights will go off in some time and how we are planning to do it."

"I spoke to them and told them to ensure that players don't get scared or panicky," Dhumal revealed.

"I had to also ensure that the crew and others working on the game also safely leave the stadium. It was my duty." The local police facilitated a smooth evacuation by removing barricades outside the ground to prevent congestion.

Dhumal expressed relief that both the Punjab and Delhi teams reached the national capital safely after a complex journey through Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar.

"Yes, there are logistical issues. Not just players, so many people are involved in the smooth conduct of a match. So, we had to make travel arrangements and also ensure that there was foolproof security during movement from Dharamsala to Delhi." The teams were escorted by a Himachal Pradesh Police convoy from Dharamsala to Hoshiarpur. From there, Punjab Police took over and accompanied the teams to Jalandhar Railway Station, where they boarded a train to Delhi.

Asked about the possibility of holding the remaining 16 IPL matches in September by cancelling the Asia Cup, Dhumal said this was not the time to consider such decisions.

"Right now, like everyone else in the country, we stand in solidarity with our armed forces in the country. We will take a call on the remainder of the tournament at an appropriate time," he said. (With PTI inputs)