Tragedy struck Bengaluru on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, as jubilant celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL 2025 victory turned into a nightmare. A massive stampede near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, prompting immediate responses from authorities and expressions of grief across the state.
Reports indicate a crush occurred as thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium, eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite RCB players. The team was scheduled to appear for a felicitation ceremony after their historic IPL win against Punjab Kings on Tuesday. The sheer volume of fans, many without entry passes, created a chaotic and uncontrollable situation. Eyewitnesses described desperate attempts to scale stadium walls and fences.
Initial reports varied, but authorities have confirmed at least ten deaths. Several people were injured and were rushed to Bowring Hospital for treatment. The incident occurred despite the presence of police personnel who were attempting to manage the crowds and maintain order. Law enforcement resorted to a lathi-charge in an attempt to control the surging masses, but were ultimately overwhelmed by the sheer number of people.
Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed his apologies for the overcrowding, stating that the crowds were "uncontrollable". He also mentioned that he had no confirmed information regarding the deaths at the time. Visuals from the scene showed police and emergency responders struggling to move injured and unconscious individuals to safety. Many attendees reportedly fainted amid the chaos.
Earlier in the day, the RCB team had arrived at HAL Airport and proceeded to Vidhana Soudha to meet with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. A stage program and felicitation were arranged at the Vidhana Soudha, drawing large crowds. The team was then scheduled to appear at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for a public celebration between 5 PM and 6 PM. While there was an initial plan for an open bus parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium, Home Minister G Parameshwara clarified that the parade was cancelled, and security and traffic management arrangements were in place for the stadium event.
The stampede has cast a pall over what was supposed to be a day of joyous celebration for RCB fans. The incident raises serious questions about crowd control measures for large-scale events and the need for better planning and coordination to ensure public safety. Authorities have initiated investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy to determine the causes and prevent similar incidents in the future.
