The Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) long-awaited IPL 2025 victory has been overshadowed by a tragic stampede that occurred during the celebration parade in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025. The incident, which took place outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, resulted in the deaths of 11 people and left over 30 injured. The stampede has cast a dark shadow over what should have been a joyous occasion for the franchise and its fans, many of whom had waited 18 years to see their team lift the trophy.
Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian cricket captain, has finally spoken out about the tragedy, expressing his grief and offering condolences to the families of the victims. In his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar described the incident as "heartbreaking" and acknowledged the intense emotions of RCB fans after nearly two decades of waiting for their team to win the IPL. He noted that if RCB had won the trophy in the initial years of the tournament, the outpouring of emotion might not have been as overwhelming. He further added that the slogan "Ee Sala Cup Namde" (This year the cup is ours), which had become synonymous with RCB's aspirations, had inadvertently become a burden for the team. Ironically, he pointed out, that this year when the slogan was less prominent, RCB played exceptionally well, creating a new IPL record by winning all their away games.
Gavaskar empathized with the fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their heroes, recognizing the deep connection between fans and players. He highlighted that the fans only wanted to see the players who had given them so much joy and happiness over the years. He also acknowledged that everyone has been a fan of someone and would want to touch them or even get a quick photo with them.
The stampede has raised serious questions about crowd management and safety protocols during large public gatherings. Initial reports suggest that the massive crowd, estimated to be over two lakh people, overwhelmed the stadium's capacity of 32,000, leading to chaos and the tragic stampede at the gates. There are also reports that a senior police officer had warned the government about potential security concerns and the shortage of security personnel. Despite these warnings, the celebrations proceeded as planned, resulting in the unfortunate loss of life.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Karnataka government has suspended several senior police officials, including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, pending inquiry. The government has also announced a judicial inquiry led by a former High Court judge to investigate the circumstances that led to the stampede and determine accountability. An FIR has been filed against RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and the event management company for alleged negligence. RCB has announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the deceased and has also created a fund to support the injured fans.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety and security during public events. It is essential that authorities and event organizers learn from this tragedy and implement stricter crowd management policies to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. This includes proper planning, adequate security personnel, clear communication, and well-defined emergency protocols.
