Bengaluru, Karnataka – In a tragic turn of events, 11 people lost their lives and several others were injured in a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday evening, following a massive celebration for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The crowd, which had gathered to celebrate RCB’s first-ever IPL title after 18 years, exceeded the stadium’s capacity, leading to chaos and the deadly stampede.
Cause of the Bengaluru Stampede
The stampede occurred when the crowd, eager to celebrate RCB’s historic win over Punjab Kings by just 6 runs, gathered in large numbers outside the stadium. Despite the overwhelming turnout, the event’s organizers failed to manage the crowd properly, resulting in confusion and panic. Eyewitnesses reported that the crowd surged forward as the situation spiraled out of control, leading to a stampede.
Compensation and Government Response
Following the heartbreaking incident, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced an increase in compensation for the victims’ families. The state government had initially proposed a compensation of Rs 10 lakh, but in light of the tragedy, it has now been raised to Rs 25 lakh for each family. The incident has sparked outrage and concern over safety measures at such large public events.
Legal and Police Action
The Karnataka Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and named senior officials from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and DNA Entertainment Networks, the company that organized the event. These individuals face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including culpable homicide.
The Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident, demanding a detailed report from the state government. The court has scheduled the next hearing for June 10. Additionally, in a swift move, the state government has suspended five senior police officers, including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, ACP, DCP (Central), and stadium in-charge officers. The Chief Minister’s political secretary K. Govindaraj and the Information Department head Hemant Nimbalkar have also been removed from their posts.
The Historic RCB IPL Victory
RCB’s victory in IPL 2025 was a moment of immense joy for the city’s cricket fans. The team triumphed in a nail-biting final, securing the IPL trophy for the first time in 18 years. The victory parade that followed was meant to be a celebration of the team’s perseverance and fan loyalty. However, it has now turned into a tragic reminder of the importance of crowd management and safety during large public events.
Looking Ahead
The Bengaluru stampede incident has raised important questions about crowd control at public celebrations, especially when large numbers of fans are involved. As the investigation continues, the families of the victims are left to mourn their loved ones, while the city and state government work towards ensuring such a tragedy does not happen again.
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