In a devastating turn of events, eleven people lost their lives in Bengaluru on Wednesday as stampede-like conditions erupted outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium during celebrations for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who secured their first IPL title in 18 years.
As news of the tragic incident spread, many more individuals were reported injured, with numerous victims receiving treatment in nearby hospitals.
Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, announced an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident, emphasizing the need for accountability.
“I don’t want to defend this incident,” Siddaramaiah stated.
“Our government is not going to do politics on this. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry and have given them 15 days’ time. The stadium has only small gates; I hope you’ve visited the stadium. ”
He further explained that the unexpected surge in crowd members led to gates being broken down.
“A stampede took place; no one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000, but two to three lakh people came to participate in the celebration. I’m not denying or saying nothing happened, that’s why I’ve ordered an inquiry. The pain of this tragedy has also erased the joy of victory.”
As celebrations were underway inside the stadium, police personnel were seen assisting fans, including minors, to hospitals amidst heavy rain and severe traffic congestion.
The RCB squad, meanwhile, lifted the trophy in front of approximately 25,000 fans who were able to enter the stadium despite the chaos outside.
In response to the turmoil, state police issued a directive to the franchise, urging them to keep the celebrations brief.
A planned victory lap around the ground had to be curtailed as players exited the venue more quickly to mitigate further risk.
A family member of one of the injured attendees described the situation as a clear instance of “complete mismanagement” on the part of local authorities.
Emergency cases ranged from dehydration and bruises to mild skull fractures. Some fans were reportedly brought in unconscious from nearby locations, including the Cubbon Park Metro Station.
The crisis prompted emergency wards at both Bowring Hospital and Lady Curzon Hospital to work swiftly to address the influx of victims.
RCB released a statement expressing their sorrow regarding the tragic events that unfolded.
“We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light through media reports regarding public gatherings all over Bengaluru in anticipation of the team’s arrival this afternoon,” the statement read.
“The safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance to us. RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extends our heartfelt condolences to the affected families. Immediately upon being made aware of the situation, we promptly amended our program and followed the guidance and advice of the local administration. We urge all our supporters to please stay safe.”
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia also expressed condolences, noting, “It is very unfortunate. This is the negative side of popularity. People are crazy for their cricketers. The organizers should have planned it better. My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. I wish early recovery of the injured.”
He emphasized the importance of adequate planning during a victory celebration of such magnitude, highlighting lapses that led to the incident.
Shortly before the celebrations began, the announcement of a victory event in Bengaluru followed RCB’s win against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad.
Virat Kohli had previously remarked in an interview, “I think I’m going to feel the real side of it when we get to Bengaluru and celebrate it with the city and fans who’ve stood by us through thick and thin.”
However, confusion surrounding the events was evident throughout the day. Initial communications pointed to a planned parade, but the Bengaluru traffic police later declared that there would be no felicitation or parade.
Public entry to the Chinnaswamy Stadium was restricted to those with tickets or passes, and citizens were advised to avoid the central business district between 3 pm and 8 pm. RCB, however, maintained that the parade was still scheduled while encouraging fans to adhere to effective guidance from law enforcement.
By 10 am on Wednesday, crowds had already gathered at the Kempegowda International Airport, ready to welcome their team back home.
To avoid traffic congestion on the route to the international airport, local police coordinated a change of plans.
The arrival of the team was shifted to the old HAL Airport instead of the international terminal. Eager fans greeted the team upon their arrival around 2 pm, where they were received by Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar. The squad then made their way to their hotel before heading to the Vidhana Soudha at 4:55 pm to meet the Chief Minister, eventually reaching the Chinnaswamy Stadium at 5:45 pm.
The team’s movements were surrounded by immense crowds, leading to the temporary suspension of metro services along the central Bengaluru routes.
To bolster safety, additional security personnel were deployed in the stations leading to the stadium.
Authorities also implemented crowd-control measures, suspending stops at crucial metro stations to prevent further inflow of fans into an already overwhelmed area.
This culmination of conditions resulted in a stampede-like situation, with mobile jammers being deployed by police for crowd management, according to stadium officials.
Heavy traffic in and around the stadium forced several airlines to release advisories, impacting passengers scheduled to fly out of Bengaluru that evening.
As investigations begin, the city mourns the tragic loss of life amidst what was meant to be a joyous celebration.
Shashank Kishore and Ashish Pant contributed to this report.
image source from：https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/rcb-s-felicitation-in-bengaluru-after-winning-ipl-2025-marred-by-deaths-and-injuries-to-fans-1489074
