Marred by last-minute changes and an underestimation of cricket fans who would show up, the RCB celebration turned ghastly, killing at least 11 people.
Bengaluru: What began as a jubilant celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic first IPL title in 18 years turned into a tragic stampede, leaving at least 11 people dead and 47 injured. The RCB team arrived in Bengaluru on Wednesday for a felicitation ceremony following their victory, and lakhs of fans gathered at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate the moment. However, last-minute changes in event planning and a severe underestimation of the crowd size led to chaos.
The team landed in the city and first visited Vidhana Soudha to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. A grand victory parade was then scheduled from the Vidhana Soudha to the stadium, with the team set to travel on an open-top bus, displaying the coveted IPL trophy. By 2 PM, thousands had already gathered outside the stadium, and by 3 PM, the crowd had swelled, resulting in roadblocks and mounting pressure at entry points. Initially, entry to the stadium was pass-based, but a sudden decision to allow free access created a surge of fans trying to push through the 13 narrow gates. Between 3:30 PM and 5 PM, the crowd situation worsened as barricades collapsed and fans were trampled in the stampede.
Tragic scenes unfolded as footwear lay scattered and people tried to carry the injured to safety. Despite the growing chaos, the celebrations inside the stadium continued. The death toll, initially reported as three, quickly rose to 11. The Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police submitted a preliminary report blaming the stampede on an “unexpected gathering of thousands,” despite security arrangements being in place. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, addressing a press conference, admitted the administration did not anticipate such an overwhelming turnout, estimating that 2-3 lakh people showed up for an event meant for a stadium that holds only 35,000. He expressed deep sorrow, noting that the joy of victory had been overshadowed by the pain of tragedy.
The Chief Minister announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased and assured free treatment for the injured. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also apologized on behalf of the government, calling the incident heartbreaking and avoidable. Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed explained that the event was organized hastily due to the team’s travel commitments, leaving little time for proper planning. An official investigation has been ordered, with a detailed report expected within 15 days.
