Bengaluru Stampede Death: ‘If we had known he was going to the stadium, We would’ve stopped him’: Shivalinga just passed Class 10 board exams; was the future of his family, says Bengaluru stampede victim’s father | Bengaluru News
BENGALURU: On Wednesday, Shivalinga left home to collect his transfer certificate (TC) from his school. He had just passed the Class 10 board exams — a proud milestone for his family. A passionate RCB fan, he took a detour to the stadium, excited in the hope of catching a glimpse of his favourite players and be part of the celebration. It was a fateful decision.“They brought his lifeless body back home,” said Mariyamma, his grandmother, breaking down as she reminisced her 17-year-old grandson.Shivalinga, a quiet and responsible son is from Honigere village in Yadgir district. His parents, both daily wage labourers, moved to the city 10 years ago hoping to give their children a better future. That future now looks dark and bleak.Mariyamma is even more pained that she had no inkling of the tragedy that had befallen them. “The neighbours knew, but they didn’t tell me anything that night,” Mariyamma said. “They waited until the next morning, around 6am., because they knew I wouldn’t be able to bear the news.”Shivalinga was the youngest and only son in the family. He had an elder sister and was regarded as the one who would eventually support the household emotionally, physically, and financially. “He was the future of this family,” Mariyamma said.The family is in shock. His parents, devastated, keep replaying the last time they saw him — unaware that it would be their final goodbye. “He didn’t tell us he was going to the stadium. If we had known, we would have stopped him,” said his father.“They might give us money (compensation), but what about our future? We wanted him to become a govt official and take care of us. Now look what life has done?” — Raksha Hosur Pradeep
