11 dead as RCB’s IPL win celebration ends in stampede

11 dead as RCB’s IPL win celebration ends in stampede - How it all went so wrong

11 people were killed as RCB’s IPL win celebration ends in tragic stampede.

June, 4 2025

(Web Desk): Thousands of people had gathered near Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)’s very first IPL championship win. But the excitement quickly spiraled out of control.

What was supposed to be a historic night of joy and pride for RCB fans turned into a heartbreaking tragedy.

As fans filled the streets to cheer for their favorite team, a massive crowd began to build outside the stadium. The authorities were not ready for such a huge number of people, and soon, panic broke out. What followed was a horrifying stampede that took the lives of at least 11 people and left 33 others injured.

The stadium, which can only hold 32,000 people, was surrounded by a crowd of nearly 2 to 3 lakh (200,000 to 300,000) fans — far more than anyone expected. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep sorrow and admitted that the situation got out of hand. “Earlier at Vidhana Soudha, 1 lakh people gathered safely, but no one thought such a massive crowd would show up at the stadium,” he said.

He has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives. The government will also take care of the medical expenses of the injured. An official investigation has been ordered to find out what went wrong and who is responsible.

Reactions poured in from across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and concern over the tragic incident. Former cricketers like Harbhajan Singh and Aakash Chopra also shared their sadness and shock over social media.

Devajit Saikia, another senior figure in cricket administration, said, “It is very unfortunate. This is a negative side of popularity. People are crazy for their cricketers. The organisers should have planned it better. My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. I wish early recovery of the injured.”

What should have been a night of celebration has instead become a night of mourning for many families. Questions are now being raised about why crowd control was so poor and how such a devastating mistake could happen in a major city like Bengaluru.

This tragedy highlights a serious lapse in crowd management and public safety during high-profile events. While RCB’s historic win brought joy to millions, the celebration quickly turned into chaos due to poor planning and lack of control over massive crowds. The sheer number of attendees — several times the stadium’s capacity — should have prompted stricter regulation and preparation. The government’s promise of compensation and an official inquiry is necessary, but it also raises concerns about how India handles crowd safety in emotionally charged events like sports victories. This incident could serve as a painful reminder and wake-up call for event organizers and authorities alike.