Bengaluru: 11 Dead in Stampede at RCB IPL 2025 Victory Celebration

BENGALURU-  A joyous celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) maiden IPL 2025 victory turned tragic as a stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured over 30 people on Wednesday evening.

The chaos erupted during a victory parade and felicitation event organized by the Karnataka State Cricket Association, attended by thousands of ecstatic fans eager to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes, including star player Virat Kohli.

According to reports, the stampede was triggered when a slab over a drain collapsed near Gate No. 3 of the stadium, causing panic among the massive crowd, estimated at 2-3 lakh people—far exceeding the stadium’s capacity of 35,000.

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Fans, some without passes, reportedly pushed through gates, leading to a deadly crush. Visuals from the scene showed scattered shoes, chaotic crowds, and ambulances struggling to navigate the overcrowded roads to reach hospitals.

Bowring Hospital confirmed six deaths, Vydehi Hospital reported four, and Manipal Hospital recorded one. Among the deceased were young men and women aged 13 to 35, with children also among the victims. At least 27 people were hospitalized, with some in critical condition.

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was present at the event, expressed deep shock, stating, “The pain of this tragedy has overshadowed the joy of victory.” He announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and free treatment for the injured. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered, with a 15-day deadline to investigate the lapses. “We did not expect such a huge crowd. The entire police force in Bengaluru was deployed, but this incident should not have happened,” Siddaramaiah said.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar apologized for the overcrowding, noting that 5,000 police personnel were deployed but described the crowd as “uncontrollable.” He added, “It was a young, vibrant crowd; we couldn’t use lathi (batons) on them.”

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences, calling the incident “absolutely heartrending” and praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Bengaluru Metro suspended services at Cubbon Park and Vidhana Soudha stations due to the overwhelming crowds, further complicating the situation.

The tragedy has cast a shadow over RCB’s historic IPL win against Punjab Kings, ending an 18-year wait for the title. As investigations begin, questions linger about crowd management and the state’s preparedness for such large-scale events.