Bengaluru, June 4, 2025 – A joyous celebration turned deadly today when a stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed the lives of at least seven people and injured over 40 others. The chaos erupted during a victory parade for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who were celebrating their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title win.
Thousands of passionate RCB fans flooded the streets around the stadium, eager to catch a glimpse of their victorious team. The overwhelming turnout, however, led to severe overcrowding at the entry points. Eyewitnesses report that the situation spiraled out of control when some individuals without entry passes attempted to force their way into the venue, triggering a fatal crush. Despite efforts by local police to manage the crowd, including the use of batons to restore order, the situation rapidly deteriorated.
Emergency response teams struggled to reach the injured due to the dense crowds, with ambulances facing significant delays. The injured were rushed to nearby medical facilities, including Bowring Hospital and Vydehi Superspeciality Hospital, where medical staff worked tirelessly to treat victims, some of whom remain in critical condition.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy and admitted to shortcomings in crowd management and safety measures. “We are devastated by the loss of lives and are committed to supporting the ongoing investigation to ensure such a tragedy is never repeated,” the statement read.
Local authorities have launched a probe to identify the causes of the stampede, with preliminary reports pointing to inadequate crowd control measures and poor coordination at entry points. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with fans and residents demanding accountability and stricter safety protocols for large-scale public events.
As Bengaluru mourns, the cricketing community and RCB fans are left grappling with the loss, turning what should have been a moment of triumph into a somber reminder of the need for robust safety measures.
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