Team India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory parade created unprecedented scenes at Marine Drive in Mumbai as lakhs of fans turned up to witness the historic moment in India’s cricket history. As per reports, as many as 3,00,000 fans turned up for the 2024 World Champions’ victory parade. The Mumbai Police deployed 5,000 personnel to control the crowd and ensure a smooth execution of the event. While everything almost went seamlessly, several fans faced trouble breathing and got injured in the sea of people.
According to Mumbai Police, ten fans were rushed to the nearest government hospital due to injuries, including one who sustained a fracture, while another faced trouble breathing. An eyewitness, Ravi Solanki, recalled the chaos the celebrations turned into and told ANI, “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.”
Solanki added that 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.” Not only this, but the Wankhede Stadium also recorded the presence of 40,000 fans as the Maharashtra Cricket Association kept the entry to the stadium open.
Mumbai never disappoints when it comes to celebrating victories: Sharma
During the celebration, captain Rohit Sharma, who guided the side to a World Cup win after 13 years, dedicated the trophy to the entire nation. Business Standards quoted him as saying, “The reception we’ve got here reflects the immense enthusiasm and anticipation people had. This trophy is for the entire nation. It belongs to all the players who have represented the country and the fans who have been yearning for this moment.”
He added, “Mumbai never disappoints when it comes to celebrating victories. Bringing this trophy back to Wankhede feels incredibly special. The fans have waited 13 years for a World Cup triumph, and finally, it’s here. I’m very happy and relieved.”