RCB homeground Chinnaswamy Stadium to be converted into COVID-19 care centre

The whole world has been grappling with COVID-19 outbreak for the past few months. The pandemic has wreaked havoc all across the globe, resulting in over 5 lakh deaths worldwide. Talking about India, there has been a significant rise in the positive cases, making the country third in the list of worst-hit coronavirus countries.

India is close to touching 8 lakh COVID-19 cases as the number is increasing with every passing day. Considering the stern situation across the country, many places have been converted into a COVID-19 care centre. The Chinnaswamy cricket stadium in Bengaluru will also be converted into a care centre considering the rise in COVID-19 cases in the state.

The recent upsurge in coronavirus positive cases has led to the government taking stern steps to tackle the situation. Along with Chinnaswamy stadium, the Bengaluru Palace will also be converted into a care centre, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) stated on Thursday.

As per the data from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka now has a total of 28,877 COVID-19 cases, including 16,531 active cases and 11,876 recoveries. Amid the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state, the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre was also recently converted into a COVID-19 care facility by the state government.

Chinnaswamy Stadium was first put to use in 1972-1973

“People of Bangalore need not panic. All necessary equipment and preparation are being arranged by the state. We have over 600 ambulances ready to take care of COVID patients,” said the state’s COVID-19 management in charge, R Ashoka, as quoted by NDTV.

The iconic Chinnaswamy stadium, spread across 18 acres, has a capacity to accommodate nearly 40,000 spectators. The 48-year-old stadium is the home to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL. The Virat Kohli-led side was going to ply their trade in the very same stadium in the thirteenth edition of the IPL. However, the league was indefinitely postponed in the wake of the pandemic.

The Chinnaswamy stadium was first used in 1972-73 for first-class cricket matches. It hosted its first international Test series between India and West Indies in 1974. The stadium is said to be the first in India to have started using solar energy to produce electricity as part of the ‘Go Green’ initiative.