RCB Title Celebrations Turn Tragic: Stampede Near Chinnaswamy Stadium Leaves 11 Feared Dead, Dozens Injured

What should’ve been a day of pure joy for Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans turned into a heartbreaking tragedy. The city’s long wait for an IPL trophy had just ended, but celebrations spiraled out of control near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, leaving over 50 fans injured and at least 11 feared dead in a stampede.

Thousands of fans had gathered outside the stadium to catch a glimpse of their beloved RCB players after the team clinched their maiden IPL title. The atmosphere was electric — but the crowd soon became overwhelming at multiple entry points, and things quickly went south. Police, outnumbered and struggling to control the chaos, were forced to use lathi-charges to push back surging crowds. The injured were rushed to Bowring Hospital for treatment, while shocked officials and fans tried to make sense of what had just happened. 

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed his grief, saying, “What was meant to be a celebration of RCB's IPL victory has turned into a tragedy, bringing deep sorrow and shock. My condolences to those who lost their lives. I offer my heartfelt sympathies to their families. Let there be love for the team, but nothing is more valuable than life. I request everyone to please stay safe.” 

Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also expressed sadness, noting how the popularity of cricket can sometimes take a dark turn. “It is very unfortunate. This is a negative side of popularity. People are crazy for their cricketers. The organisers should have planned it better. My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. I wish early recovery of the injured.” 

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had arranged a special felicitation event inside the stadium for the RCB squad. But with far too many fans showing up — many without any passes — the situation became nearly impossible to manage. Eyewitnesses described fans climbing walls and fences, desperate to get inside and catch even a glimpse of their heroes. Police made repeated announcements urging the crowd to stay calm and avoid unlawful entry. But the excitement had reached boiling point, and the force had no option but to use mild lathi charges at certain spots to restore order. 

Meanwhile, the chaos wasn’t limited to the stadium. The Bengaluru Metro saw an unprecedented rush of passengers. Stations along the Purple Line — including SV Road, Indiranagar, Halasuru, and Trinity — were overflowing. The metro authorities had to repeatedly warn commuters to avoid overcrowded trains. The city’s traffic police had already advised against the open-top bus parade, warning it could create severe congestion. But despite that, the plan was allowed to go ahead — only for it to be scrapped at the last moment as the situation spiraled beyond police control. The much-anticipated parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium never took place. 

Now, serious questions are being raised about the planning — or lack thereof. Critics have slammed the authorities for underestimating the fan turnout and failing to ensure basic safety measures, especially when it became clear earlier in the day that crowd control was going to be a major challenge.