Tragedy Strikes RCB Victory Celebration as Stampede Claims 11 Lives
Bengaluru: What began as a historic celebration for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) following their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title win turned into a tragic incident on Wednesday evening, when a massive stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in the deaths of 11 people and left 47 others injured. Four of the injured remain in critical condition.
The stampede occurred as an overwhelming crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of star cricketer Virat Kohli and his teammates during a planned victory celebration. Despite the stadium’s official capacity of approximately 35,000, authorities reportedly allowed close to two lakh people into the premises and surrounding areas, creating a dangerously overcrowded situation.
The day’s events began at 5:00 p.m. when the RCB team arrived at Vidhana Soudha, where they were formally felicitated by the Karnataka state government. Thousands lined the streets and surrounding areas, braving heavy rain to be part of the historic celebration.
As the team was en route to Chinnaswamy Stadium following the ceremony, chaos erupted outside the stadium gates. The sudden surge of the crowd led to people falling and being trampled. Emergency responders struggled to reach the scene due to the dense crowd, further complicating rescue efforts.
Despite the unfolding tragedy, the celebration inside the stadium continued uninterrupted. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar later admitted that the police were overwhelmed and unable to control the massive crowd. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka has called for a judicial inquiry into the incident.
Earlier in the day, RCB had planned an open-bus parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium to mark the team’s long-awaited IPL triumph after 18 years. However, Bengaluru police denied permission for the parade, citing logistical and safety concerns. The plan was subsequently revised to hold the event solely at the stadium.
Additional tragedies marred the celebrations in other parts of Karnataka. In Shivamogga, a youth died after his motorcycle collided with a child during a celebratory rally. Another individual collapsed and died while dancing in Avaradi village in Belagavi district on Tuesday night.
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