Suraj Nandrekar
The streets of Bengaluru turned into scenes of horror and heartbreak on what should have been a joyous occasion. Eleven lives — sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers — were lost in a tragic stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations.
What should have been a moment of pride for fans turned into a chilling reminder of how little value is placed on public safety and human life in the face of celebrity-driven spectacle.
Let’s be clear: this was not the World Cup. This was not a Champions Trophy triumph. In fact, when India won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, the country did not organise a grand parade.
There was no celebratory rally in congested cities. The players returned, received warm welcomes, and life went on — with dignity, not chaos. That a franchise victory in a commercial league like the IPL prompted such recklessness is both baffling and shameful.
What makes this even more outrageous is the series of preventable errors and blatant disregard for expert advice.
Reports indicate that the Bengaluru police had advised organisers — including RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) — to hold the parade on a weekend or Sunday, when traffic would be lighter and crowd management easier.
That advice was ignored. Why? Because star players allegedly had other commitments. Is that a valid reason to risk — and ultimately lose — human lives?
RCB’s first-ever IPL title was undoubtedly special, particularly for a fan base that waited 17 long years. But how did that excitement morph into a deathtrap?
The crowd swelled beyond capacity, there were no proper barricades, no zoning, no clear exits, and evidently no emergency preparedness. The most appalling detail? The function continued even after news of the stampede surfaced. Music played, players waved, and festivities rolled on — while bodies were being carried away.
How did we become a nation where the show must go on, even as people die?
It is essential to question not just RCB or KSCA, but also the broader institutional failure.
The BCCI — one of the richest cricket boards in the world — must answer why there was no protocol or oversight for this celebration.
After all, they regulate the IPL. In contrast, when India won the 2024 T20 World Cup, the parade in Mumbai was meticulously planned in coordination with the Mumbai Police. Public safety was prioritised, the crowd was managed, and the event concluded without tragedy. That experience could have been replicated — it wasn’t.
Let us be clear: compensation of ₹10 lakh per family is not enough. These are not mere statistics — they are lives, stories, futures gone. Accountability must follow. A judicial inquiry should be initiated immediately to determine who authorised this event, who ignored police recommendations, and who failed to implement safety measures. If criminal negligence is found, charges must follow. This cannot be brushed aside with PR statements and condolence tweets.
Going forward, every state must have clear, enforceable guidelines for mass public celebrations by sports teams and franchises. These events attract tens of thousands — often emotional, energetic crowds — and the infrastructure needs to match that scale. If logistics don’t allow it, don’t hold the event. Postpone it. Modify it. Cancel it. No player’s calendar, no fan excitement, no media event is worth the loss of even one life — let alone eleven.
This isn’t just a governance failure. It is a moral failure. The love for cricket should never demand blood. RCB, KSCA, the Karnataka government, and the BCCI owe this country answers — and more importantly, action. Not tomorrow, not next month, but now.
Because if we allow this to pass like any other headline — we’re telling the families of the victims that their loved ones died for a photo op. And that would be the greatest tragedy of all.
