A tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) victory parade near Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has claimed the lives of 11 people and left 33 injured. The incident occurred on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, as massive crowds gathered to celebrate the team's IPL 2025 triumph. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating that the "pain of this tragedy has erased the joy of victory."
The Chief Minister addressed the media, stating that the government did not anticipate such a huge crowd. He mentioned that while the stadium has a capacity of 35,000, an estimated 2-3 lakh people turned up for the victory parade, with approximately one lakh gathering near Vidhana Soudha. He said, "No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came."
Siddaramaiah has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased and has assured free medical treatment for the injured. He also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, which will be conducted by an IAS officer. "We will take action against those who have committed lapses," he stated. The inquiry is expected to be completed within 15 days.
According to reports, most of the deceased are young people and women. Among the injured, one person is in critical condition, and several with head injuries have been shifted to NIMHANS. The remaining injured are undergoing treatment at Bowring and Vydehi Hospitals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed his condolences, calling the incident "absolutely heartrending."
The incident has sparked a political debate, with the opposition BJP criticizing the state government's handling of the event. BJP state president BY Vijayendra alleged that the government's "reckless haste" in organizing the victory rally without proper preparations led to the disaster. He also claimed that there was inadequate police presence and a lack of ambulance facilities at the event. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar responded to the criticism, stating, "They are there to allege, and we are there to protect."
In light of the tragedy, CM Siddaramaiah has appealed to the public to prioritize safety above everything else. He stated, "The pain of this tragedy has even erased the joy of victory. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace, and may the injured recover soon. My condolences to the bereaved families."