The city of Bengaluru was overcome with both jubilation and tragedy on June 4, 2025, as celebrations for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL victory turned chaotic. A stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium led to fatalities and numerous injuries, casting a pall over what should have been a joyous occasion.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar addressed the situation, expressing his sorrow and acknowledging the difficulties in managing the massive crowd. Initial reports varied, but it was soon clear that the situation was severe. While Shivakumar initially stated that he had no confirmed reports of deaths and didn't want to disturb doctors treating the injured, reports indicated that at least seven people were feared dead, and over 40 were injured in the stampede. Later reports confirmed eleven deaths.

"I think this is not a controllable crowd. I apologize to all the people of Bengaluru and Karnataka; we wanted to take a procession, but the crowd is uncontrollable," Shivakumar stated, as reported by Times Now. He also told ANI, "I have spoken to the Police Commissioner and everyone. I will also go to the hospital later. I do not want to disturb the doctors who are taking care of the patients. The exact number cannot be told now. We appeal to the people to remain calm. We shortened the program. The program ended within 10 minutes. We are trying to make everything normal…Lakhs of people came.”

The Deputy Chief Minister also said, "It was a young, vibrant crowd, we can't use lathi." This statement reflects the challenges faced by the police in controlling the enthusiastic fans who had gathered to celebrate RCB's victory. Shivakumar apologized for the overcrowding, noting that while over 5,000 personnel were arranged, the sheer number of fans made maintaining order incredibly difficult.

Eyewitness accounts and visuals from the scene painted a harrowing picture. People were seen gasping for air, and some collapsed as the police struggled to manage the surging crowd outside the stadium. The situation was so overwhelming that even a child was seen fainting in the crowd, prompting immediate assistance from police officers.

The event had begun with an official felicitation at Vidhana Soudha and was meant to culminate in a grand celebration at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, the massive influx of fans proved difficult for authorities to manage. According to The Economic Times, the police had a 'very difficult' time controlling the crowd.

In light of the tragedy, the Karnataka government has taken steps to manage the situation. Shivakumar appealed to the public to remain calm and assured them that authorities were working to restore normalcy. He also mentioned that the program was shortened, ending within ten minutes, to try and alleviate the congestion.