Stampede outside RCB victory parade in Bengaluru kills 11, injures dozens

June 4, 2025 by News Desk

At least 11 people died and around 50 were injured in a stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, as tens of thousands of fans gathered to welcome the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) following their first IPL title in 18 years.

Visuals from the scene showed many supporters fainting amid the crush, while ambulances and police vehicles struggled to navigate the overcrowded streets.

RCB had defeated the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final the previous day. The team landed in Bengaluru in the afternoon and was received by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

A victory parade and felicitation ceremony were planned, but organizers were overwhelmed when an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 fans—far exceeding the stadium’s 35,000 capacity—turned up.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah acknowledged that authorities did not anticipate such a massive turnout and ordered a magistrate-level inquiry.

He announced ₹10 lakh in compensation for each victim’s family and promised free treatment for the injured in government and private hospitals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “absolutely heartrending” and expressed his condolences, while President Droupadi Murmu called it “shocking and heartbreaking.”

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi urged the Karnataka government to review safety protocols for public events, saying, “No celebration is worth a human life.” Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot also demanded a thorough investigation into the lapses that led to the tragedy.

Amid criticism from the BJP— which alleged that the Congress-led state government failed to manage the crowd—RCB officials inside the stadium continued their ceremony, unaware of the chaos unfolding outside.

Team members Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar praised the fans’ passion but lamented that the joyous occasion had been marred by loss of life. Former UP Police chief Amitabh Thakur told NDTV that the tragedy was “very much avoidable” with better planning and crowd control.