Fans face breathing issues, fainting at Team India's T20 World Cup victory parade

Several fans who gathered at Marine Drive in Mumbai for Team India’s T20 World Cup victory parade complained of issues such as breathing difficulties and fainting due to the densely packed crowd.

The Indian cricket team participated in a two-hour open bus parade from the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Nariman Point to Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Recounting the chaos, eyewitness Ravi Solanki described the scene as disorganized and poorly managed. He stated, "I was coming from the office and heard the Indian team would arrive between 5 pm-6 pm, but the crowd kept growing. The police seemed unable to handle the situation. Suddenly, people started shouting, leading to some falling over each other. It was chaotic with no one in charge. The incident occurred between 8:15 pm and 8:45 pm," Solanki told news agency ANI.

Rishab Mahesh Yadav, who reportedly lost consciousness during the parade, shared his ordeal: "The crowd surged. I fell and struggled to breathe. I passed out and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. I'm better now. There were too many people. It was mismanaged, and the police seemed unprepared."

Thousands had gathered in South Mumbai, some arriving as early as 3 pm, creating challenges for police in crowd control.

Despite the difficulties, fans celebrated India's T20 World Cup victory with fervor, dancing and cheering as players proudly displayed the trophy.

At Wankhede Stadium, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) presented the victorious team with a Rs 125 crore check. India's triumph over South Africa in the final marked their first ICC trophy win since 2013, with Rohit Sharma's team making history by going undefeated throughout the tournament.