What began as a historic celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) first IPL title win turned into a heartbreaking tragedy on Wednesday, June 4, when a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru claimed 11 lives and left over 40 injured.
In Short
- ⚠️ 11 dead, 40+ injured in stampede near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
- 🎉 RCB were celebrating their maiden IPL 2025 victory with fans
- 🚨 The crowd turned chaotic after a drain slab collapsed, causing panic
- 👩🦰 Victims were mostly young girls and teenage boys
A Celebration Turns Tragic
After defeating the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final, RCB announced a fan interaction event in Bengaluru to celebrate their long-awaited title win — a moment 18 years in the making. Though authorities had denied permission for a planned open-top bus parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium (just 1 km away), the announcement of the event drew an overwhelming crowd of more than 2 lakh fans.
While only pass-holders were allowed inside the stadium, thousands of others gathered around its premises hoping to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes.
What Went Wrong?
According to preliminary reports, a temporary slab covering a drain near the stadium gave way due to the pressure of the crowd standing on it. The sudden collapse triggered panic and confusion, causing a stampede.
The incident occurred near the Cubbon Park Metro Station, where large groups of mostly male youths were dancing and blocking the road. This made it impossible for people to move, leading to a deadly crush as others tried to push through.
Key Causes:
- Collapse of a temporary structure under crowd weight
- Overcrowding due to lack of crowd control
- No security presence in key congested areas
- Only two ambulances were stationed inside the stadium
On-the-Ground Chaos
Eyewitnesses report that many of the injured — mostly young girls and teenage boys — fainted and were carried inside the stadium to receive first aid. However, with only two ambulances available, many couldn't be transported quickly.
Security personnel, realizing the severity of the situation, began carrying unconscious fans in their arms, weaving through blocked roads to reach open traffic lanes nearly 500 meters away, in hopes of flagging down private vehicles or cabs.
A Journalist’s First-Hand Account
Nikhil Naz, Consulting Editor – Sports, who was present at the stadium with his cameraman Deepak, shared a chilling description of the event:
“We were heading to Gate 13 when the crowd dynamics turned dangerous. There were three conflicting flows of people — some heading toward Gate 13, some away from it, and others dancing in the middle of the road. The force of the crowd was so strong that we lost control and were pushed around. Luckily, Deepak and I are full-grown men and could withstand it, but young fans were not as fortunate.”
Lack of Coordination and Security Lapses
Despite the scale of the event, security personnel were only stationed at the stadium gates, with no presence near high-risk crowd areas.
In a statement, RCB said they immediately modified the evening's fan engagement event upon learning of the tragedy, emphasizing that “the safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance to us.”
However, criticism poured in over event mismanagement and lack of coordination between organizers and authorities.
Key Reactions:
- BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia admitted there were organizational lapses but clarified the BCCI had no involvement in planning the event.
- IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal stated that the cricket board wasn’t even informed about who was managing the event logistics.
Official Ceremonies Earlier in the Day
Earlier in the day, the RCB squad had been:
- Welcomed at the airport by Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
- Felicitated at the Vidhana Soudha by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
These events had proceeded smoothly, adding to the excitement in the city before the chaos unfolded later in the evening.
What This Tragedy Teaches Us
This horrific incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of unregulated public gatherings. It underscores the urgent need for better crowd control, medical readiness, and emergency access during large-scale public events — especially when such events involve passionate fans in the hundreds of thousands.
While the joy of RCB’s long-awaited victory remains, it is now shadowed by the grief of a city — and families — mourning lives lost in celebration.
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Our Condolences
Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of the victims. RCB’s win may have ended an 18-year drought, but this tragedy has left a permanent scar on what should have been a moment of pure joy for Bengaluru.