The celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2025 victory turned tragic when a stampede broke out outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, leaving at least 11 people dead—including a woman and a school student—and injuring dozens more.
The stampede occurred when an unexpectedly large crowd of fans gathered near a small gate to enter the stadium for the victory parade. Due to poor crowd control and limited entry points, panic spread quickly, and many people were crushed in the chaos.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but due to heavy traffic around the stadium, it became difficult to transport the injured. Some victims were taken to hospitals in police cars, ambulances, and even private vehicles. Several people were declared dead on arrival at nearby hospitals like Bowring and Vydehi. Others received CPR from fellow fans on the spot.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited the hospital and expressed deep sorrow over the incident. He stated that more than 2-3 lakh people gathered near the stadium, which only has a 35,000 capacity, leading to the tragic situation. The government has announced financial assistance of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his grief, calling the incident heartbreaking and offering condolences to the affected families. He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
RCB players, including Virat Kohli, had just arrived in the city when the tragedy unfolded. Kohli shared his heartbreak on social media, saying he was “devastated and lost for words.”The incident sparked political backlash, with the opposition blaming the state government for negligence and lack of preparation. Critics labeled the tragedy a result of poor planning and called for accountability.What was meant to be a joyful celebration of an 18-year wait for an IPL trophy turned into a national tragedy, highlighting the urgent need for better crowd management and safety planning during public events.
