Ahead of the second Test match between India and Bangladesh, a portion of the Kanpur Stadium has been declared unsafe.
According to Indian media, a stand at the Kanpur Stadium has been deemed dangerous by the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department, which has notified the stadium management about the issue.
The second Test match between India and Bangladesh is scheduled to take place at Kanpur Stadium starting on September 27.
The report indicates that the stadium’s balcony stand is particularly hazardous, with concerns that it may collapse if filled to capacity. To mitigate risks, only half the tickets for the balcony stand have been made available. The stand can hold 4,800 spectators, but only 1,700 tickets have been sold to avoid overloading the structure.
Indian media warned that even if 50 people were to jump or move vigorously in the balcony area, it could lead to a collapse. Additionally, eight bulbs in the floodlights near the VIP stand are faulty, further exacerbating the situation. The stadium has long faced challenges with lighting, and pollution often affects visibility in the area.
Previously, India failed to win a Test match against New Zealand at this venue due to poor lighting, despite all floodlights being functional.
With only two days left before the match, there is little time to change the venue, raising concerns that an unfortunate incident might occur due to the unsafe conditions.
In addition to the structural issues, Hindu extremist groups have threatened to protest outside the stadium against the alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh following the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.
Despite these threats, the match is expected to go ahead as scheduled.
