On Sunday, the 13th Wipro Bengaluru Marathon drew a wave of thousands along the city’s arteries, organised by NEB Sports under Wipro’s sponsorship.
Runners complained that from the 10‑kilometre mark onward, hydration points vanished—12 stations ran dry, leaving athletes scrambling for water.
Ekta Sirohi said, "Everything was fine until the 10 km mark," while Shaaz A Khan posted, "Water stations between 6 km and 16‑17 km were empty, a post‑apocalyptic scene."
The shortage was compounded by reports that organisers used unwashed recycled plastic cups, raising public‑health concerns and the risk of cardiac arrest in a hot, 35‑kilometre stretch.
Crowd control also failed; faster runners collided with the 5‑km and 10‑km groups at route merges, stalling progress and raising safety alarms.
NEB Sports issued an Instagram post apologizing, admitting operational lapses, and announcing a comprehensive audit before next year’s race.
The audit, scheduled for early November, will scrutinise water logistics and crowd management to prevent a repeat.