Dharamshala: We reached the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala just before 7 pm — a group of friends and a few relatives, excited for what promised to be a thrilling IPL match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC).
The picturesque stadium nestled in the Dhauladhar mountains in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh was buzzing with energy, and everyone was eager to see our home team Punjab Kings in action.
Excitement in air: Late toss, big expectations
A light drizzle delayed the toss, and we waited under umbrellas, still cheerful. Finally, at 8.15 pm — 75 minutes late — Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer walked out and chose to bat first, citing damp conditions and a desire to set a target. The match began at 8.30 pm and the festive atmosphere roared back to life.
Punjab Kings’ openers came out blazing. Priyansh Arya played a phenomenal knock, scoring 70 off just 34 balls, while Prabhsimran Singh was batting on 50.
In just 10.1 overs, Punjab Kings had powered their way to 122/1. With nine wickets in hand and momentum on their side, they looked set for a record-breaking total. The crowd was electric. We were witnessing something special.
Sudden darkness and panic: From cricket to chaos in minutes
And then everything changed all of a sudden. At 10.1 overs, the stadium floodlights went off.
At first, we thought it was a power glitch, maybe more rain. But then a voice crackled through the speakers: spectators were to evacuate the stadium immediately, citing “technical reasons”.
Within minutes, police sirens blared. We watched in stunned silence as police and Army personnel entered the ground. It was surreal. Then came the full blackout — all lights shut. Panic spread. Families clutched their kids. Some fans tried to rush towards the exit, others stood frozen.
Top district police officers were on-site with their team and calmly coordinated the evacuation. Their presence was the only reassuring thing in a terrifying moment — skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani militaries already having escalated.
The police personnel helped exit safely, avoiding what could have turned into a stampede.
Match that shouldn’t have happened? Questions remain
Outside the stadium, chaos lingered. People whispered about missiles, war and Operation Sindoor. Later, it emerged that Pakistani forces had launched a coordinated attack attempt on 15 Indian sites the previous night.
Some missiles were reportedly intercepted over Punjab and Jammu — not far from Dharamshala. We realised how close danger had come.
And that’s when a more serious question struck us all: why was the match allowed to begin at all? Kangra borders Chamba, which itself touches Jammu & Kashmir and has seen the massacre of 35 Hindus by Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in 1998.
With the nation on high alert and credible threats in the region, how did authorities and organisers justify putting 24,000 people at risk?
The match — filled with promise and excitement — ended not with cheers, but with confusion and fear. While the police and Army deserve credit for avoiding a bigger disaster, the decision to go ahead with the game in the first place needs accountability.
I went to watch a cricket match. I came back with a reminder that in times of national crisis, no event — however glamorous — is worth endangering lives.
Shruti Puri
