What was meant to be a moment of glory and joy for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and their fans turned into a devastating tragedy on Wednesday, June 4, as a stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru claimed 11 lives and left 33 others injured.
The crowd surge occurred during a homecoming celebration organized for the RCB team, following their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title victory after an 18-year wait. RCB had clinched the championship with a narrow six-run win over Punjab Kings in the final held a day earlier in Ahmedabad, according to Indian news reports.
Despite heavy police deployment, tens of thousands of emotionally charged fans overwhelmed security arrangements, pushing through multiple gates in an attempt to witness the celebrations. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as people climbed gates, trees, and even broke barricades to get a better view of their cricketing idols.
Emergency services struggled to respond due to massive road congestion. Ambulances reportedly faced severe delays in reaching hospitals. Two of the deceased were confirmed taken to Bowring Hospital, while four were shifted to Vaidehi Hospital. Six individuals remain in intensive care, with others receiving critical treatment. Additional deaths were reported by hospital sources, though official identification is still pending.
Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed the casualty figures in a press briefing. “At a time of celebration, this unfortunate event should not have happened. No one expected this crowd,” he said.
His deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, who had earlier welcomed the team at HAL airport and presented team flags to captain Virat Kohli, expressed regret over the incident. “The crowd was uncontrollable. Police found it difficult to manage, and we had to stop the procession,” he told reporters. “We cannot use force on such a young, vibrant crowd,” he added, highlighting the authorities’ dilemma.
Security concerns had earlier prompted the cancellation of an official parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, massive crowds had already gathered at Vidhana Soudha for a government-led felicitation event for the team. Police were eventually forced to resort to a mild lathi charge to manage the swelling crowd.
An RCB spokesperson expressed sorrow, acknowledging the fans’ overwhelming passion: “People have waited 18 years for this Cup. We need to empathize with their emotions, even in such tragic circumstances.”
A separate incident involved a fan who fractured his leg while trying to scale a gate, while several others were seen perched on trees just to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
A BCCI official, commenting on the tragedy, remarked, “This is the darker side of fame. People are crazy about their cricketers.”
As investigations continue, authorities say more details will be shared soon. The Karnataka government has promised a thorough review of the security arrangements and emergency response procedures for future public events.
