The celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) first-ever IPL victory in 2025 turned into a tragic incident on Wednesday, June 4th, as a stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in 11 deaths and numerous injuries. Overwhelmed by the anticipation of celebrating with their team, massive crowds gathered, leading to chaotic scenes and ultimately, a devastating loss of life. Survivors have recounted the horrific experience, painting a grim picture of the events that unfolded.
According to eyewitness accounts, the situation began to deteriorate as early as 3 PM, with an estimated 50,000 people converging within a one-kilometer radius of the stadium. The promise of free tickets to the felicitation ceremony exacerbated the situation, drawing even larger crowds. Sinchana N, a 25-year-old who found herself caught in the melee, said she was only able to avoid the worst of it because she arrived late. She also stated that police presence was not effective in controlling the crowd, and officers were just pushing people around.
As the crowd swelled, chaos erupted near Gate No. 7 of the stadium. Witnesses described a desperate scramble for entry, with people falling over each other in the crush. The situation was further aggravated by sudden rainfall around 5:30 PM, causing panic and exacerbating the already dangerous conditions. Avinash S, a 31-year-old from RR Nagar, recounted seeing an ambulance filled with approximately 40 injured people. He considered himself lucky to escape in time, noting that even the police struggled to manage the overwhelming crowd.
One survivor vividly described the horror of being trampled underfoot. "People stamped with shoes all over me," they recounted, highlighting the sheer desperation and brutality of the situation. The narrow gates of the stadium became choke points, intensifying the crush and making escape nearly impossible for many.
Mahesh, another eyewitness, stated that many people had come to see Virat Kohli and the RCB team. He described seeing girls attempting to enter the stadium by pushing the gate, and witnessing three of them fall without anyone coming to their rescue. Another eyewitness reported that the stadium was full, preventing entry, but the crowded gates also prevented people from leaving. They noted that many were injured.
The aftermath of the stampede left a scene of devastation. A mound of shoes and sandals, along with discarded sports apparel and merchandise, lay scattered near the stadium, stark reminders of the lives lost and the chaos that had ensued.
The tragic events have sparked widespread condemnation and calls for accountability. Critics point to poor crowd management and a lack of preparedness as major contributing factors to the disaster. The decision to hold a victory rally without adequate planning and safety measures has also come under scrutiny.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed his shock and sorrow over the incident, offering condolences to the families of the deceased and promising free treatment for the injured. The government has also announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the families of the victims. Former Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai has called for a high-level probe into the tragedy.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore team has issued a statement expressing their condolences and stating that they were deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents.
The Bengaluru stampede serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper planning, crowd control, and safety measures at large public gatherings. As investigations into the incident continue, there is a collective hope that lessons will be learned and measures will be implemented to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
