Eleven people lost their lives and at least 47 were injured in a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday evening, following chaotic scenes at the felicitation ceremony of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who recently secured their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title.
The incident occurred after organisers, in an apparent attempt to accommodate the city's cricket-mad public, lifted initial restrictions and opened the gates to all fans. This triggered a massive rush, with an estimated two lakh people attempting to enter a stadium designed to hold just 35,000.
"A stampede began when barricades collapsed under the pressure of the crowd. Those near the front were pushed to the ground and trampled by others trying to enter," an official said.
According to the police and eyewitness accounts, the crowd surged uncontrollably as people from all directions were funnelled through a narrow entry point. The situation turned tragic when a temporary slab placed over a drain near the stadium collapsed under the weight of the gathering. The sudden fall sparked panic and led to people being crushed and trampled.
“Lakhs of people came… The programme had ended within 10 minutes,” said Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, while expressing regret over the incident. “We had arranged more than 5,000 personnel,” he added, stressing that efforts were made to keep the event short.
Despite the initial requirement of entry passes, many supporters arrived hoping to join the celebration. Once the announcement of free public entry was made, crowd numbers swelled beyond expectation. Visuals from the site showed police and volunteers carrying unconscious and injured individuals to nearby hospitals. Several in the crowd fainted due to the crush and heat.
The RCB team, who had earlier met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Vidhana Soudha, was present at the stadium for the felicitation. The event, which was to be a grand celebration of the team’s historic victory after 18 years in the league, was curtailed to just 20 minutes once reports of the unfolding situation reached organisers.
In a statement released late on Wednesday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru expressed their condolences over the tragedy. “We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident that took place before the RCB unboxing event at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those affected. We are truly grateful to have such passionate fans and urge everyone to prioritise safety at all times,” the franchise said.
Also read: Stampede after RCB victory; 11 killed in Bengaluru
Kohli says he is ‘gutted’ by the loss of lives
RCB talisman and former captain Virat Kohli, who led the team’s lap of honour inside the stadium before the tragedy unfolded outside, broke his silence later in the evening.
Kohli reposted the franchise’s official statement on Instagram and added a personal note, writing: “At a loss for words. Absolutely gutted,” accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
Kohli’s message reflected the sorrow of the squad and their supporters. RCB had only a day earlier lifted their first IPL trophy after defeating the Punjab Kings in the final.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association, under scrutiny for the event’s management, announced ₹5 lakh in compensation for the families of each of the deceased.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told India Today that the board was not responsible for the conduct of the programme, though he admitted there had been “lapses in its organisation”.
Questions are being raised over the decision to go ahead with the felicitation at the stadium even after initial alerts of crowd trouble. Many have also questioned the lack of adequate safety measures despite the expected turnout.
An official investigation has been ordered by the Chief Minister, and a report has been sought within 15 days.
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