The city of Bengaluru erupted in joy as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title after 18 years. However, the celebrations quickly turned into tragedy as a stampede near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to over 50 others on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

Following their victory against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 final held in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, the RCB team returned to Bengaluru for a victory parade and state felicitation ceremony. Massive crowds gathered to welcome the team, eager to celebrate the historic win with their favorite players, including Virat Kohli.

A state-level felicitation event was organized by the Karnataka government at Vidhana Soudha at 4 PM, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Governor, and cabinet ministers in attendance. A celebration event was scheduled to begin at Chinnaswamy Stadium at 6 PM, including team appearances and crowd engagement.

The Bengaluru Traffic Police issued an advisory, urging the public to avoid roads surrounding Vidhana Soudha and Chinnaswamy Stadium from 3 PM to 8 PM. They also advised using the metro and other public transport due to limited parking. However, the advisory did not anticipate the sheer number of fans who would turn out to celebrate.

As thousands of fans gathered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, a stampede broke out. The situation quickly spiraled out of control, leading to several fatalities and injuries. Authorities rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, including Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital and Vaidehi Hospitals.

The tragic incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with many questioning the planning and execution of the victory celebrations. Former CM and MP Basavaraja Bommai demanded a high-level probe into the tragedy, stating that the state government hastily organized the event without proper planning. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said that the organizers should have planned the RCB's IPL-winning celebrations better.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, describing the mishap as "absolutely heartrending." Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that the government would provide Rs 10 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased and declared a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

Despite the tragedy, the celebration event inside the Chinnaswamy Stadium continued as planned, drawing criticism from fans and the public. Many questioned the decision to proceed with the festivities while people outside were fighting for their lives. The RCB management is facing severe criticism for continuing with celebrations despite a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy.

The incident raises serious questions about crowd management and safety measures for large-scale public events. The unexpected turnout of fans, coupled with potential lapses in planning and security, contributed to the tragic outcome. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of thorough planning, risk assessment, and effective crowd control measures to prevent such incidents in the future.