A joyous celebration turned into a tragedy near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday evening as a stampede-like situation claimed at least seven lives and left dozens of others injured during festivities marking Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic IPL 2025 victory.
The city, buzzing with excitement over RCB’s maiden Indian Premier League title win against Punjab Kings, descended into chaos as thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes.
The incident occurred around 5:00 PM IST when massive crowds, estimated to be in the tens of thousands, converged outside the iconic stadium. Fans, waving RCB flags and chanting team slogans, thronged the gates in hopes of entering the venue for a planned felicitation ceremony. However, restricted entry for ticket holders only, combined with inadequate crowd control measures, led to a dangerous bottleneck at the stadium’s entrances. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as people were pushed and trampled in the ensuing chaos.
According to reports in the national media, the stampede resulted in at least seven deaths. More than 50 individuals were injured, with several in critical condition. Emergency services rushed the victims to nearby hospitals, including Bowring Hospital and Vaidehi Hospital, where medical teams worked tirelessly to treat the wounded.
The Bengaluru Police had anticipated large crowds and issued advisories urging fans to use public transport due to limited parking and to respect the ticket-only entry policy. However, the sheer volume of fans overwhelmed security arrangements. In an attempt to disperse the crowd, police resorted to a mild lathi-charge, which further escalated tensions.
RCB’s victory parade, planned as an open-top bus procession from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium, was cancelled due to the chaotic situation. The team, led by captain Virat Kohli, proceeded with a low-key felicitation event inside the stadium, attended by ticket holders and dignitaries.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning the adequacy of crowd management and safety protocols.
