The tragic stampede outside Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, has left the city in mourning. As fans gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) historic first Indian Premier League (IPL) victory, a sudden surge resulted in a deadly crush, claiming the lives of eleven people. What is particularly heartbreaking is the youth of the victims: all were under the age of 40, with three teenagers and six individuals in their 20s and 30s among the deceased.
The youngest victim, Divyanshi, was only 13 years old. Other young lives lost include Shivalinga (17), Chinmayi (19), and several others in their early twenties: Bhoomik, Shravan, and Prajwal (all 20). The remaining victims, Doresha (32), Sahana (25), Akshata (27), Manoj (33) and Devi (29), represent young adults with their lives ahead of them. Many had come with friends, eager to share in the joyous occasion of RCB's long-awaited victory.
The incident has sparked widespread grief and outrage, with many questioning the safety measures in place for such a large gathering. Initial reports suggest that over two lakh fans flocked to the stadium, far exceeding its capacity of 35,000. The situation was further exacerbated by last-minute changes to the victory parade, which was initially planned as a street procession but was later moved to the stadium due to security concerns raised by the Bengaluru police. The announcement of free entry passes on social media added to the frenzy, leading to a chaotic rush as fans attempted to enter the stadium.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the events that unfolded. With limited police and private security personnel deployed, the crowd quickly became unmanageable. As fans pushed and shoved to gain entry, barricades collapsed, leading to a stampede at Gate 20. The scene was one of utter chaos, with people being trampled underfoot as they desperately tried to escape the crush.
The Karnataka government has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased and free treatment for the injured. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also pledged to formulate new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for mega-events to prevent such tragedies from happening again. The Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and has asked the state government to submit a detailed report by June 10.
RCB has also expressed its condolences and announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to each of the families of the deceased. Virat Kohli, the former captain of RCB, expressed his grief on social media, stating he was "at a loss for words" and "absolutely gutted" by the tragedy.
As investigations into the stampede continue, questions remain about the planning and execution of the victory celebrations. Concerns have been raised about the lack of crowd control measures, the decision to offer free entry passes without adequate security arrangements, and the overall preparedness of the authorities to handle such a large influx of people. The loss of these young lives serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety and security at public events.
