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RCB Victory Celebrations Turn Tragic in Bengaluru: Stampede Claims 11 Lives
RCB Celebration in Bengaluru Ends in Chaos and Tragedy
In a tragic turn of events, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL 2025 victory celebrations led to a stampede-like situation in Bengaluru, claiming 11 lives on Wednesday, June 4. Overcrowding around the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where RCB was scheduled to be felicitated, spiraled out of control due to mismanagement and contradictory announcements by authorities.
Miscommunication and Last-Minute Planning Spark Havoc
The incident occurred after the Karnataka Chief Minister’s office announced a felicitation program for the RCB players. Crowds began gathering as early as 3:45 PM near Vidhana Soudha, anticipating an open-top bus parade.
However, confusion prevailed until the last hour. While RCB’s social media hinted at a parade, the Bengaluru Traffic Police issued a statement denying any such event. Last-minute efforts between event organizers and the police reportedly failed to put adequate crowd control measures in place.
Stampede Outside Chinnaswamy Stadium
According to media reports, chaos broke out as fans tried scaling the walls of the stadium. Police were seen resorting to mild lathi charges to manage the uncontrollable crowd.
The unexpected rainfall worsened the situation, prompting RCB’s shift to closed buses, abandoning the planned open-top celebration. Tragically, in the rush and confusion, multiple casualties were reported.
Fatalities and Official Statements
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar confirmed that six people were declared dead at Bowring Hospital, while Vydehi Hospital reported four more brought dead. Another person succumbed later, bringing the total death toll to 11.
“I apologize to the people of Karnataka for the crowd mismanagement,” said Shivakumar during a press briefing.
Arrests and Accountability
On Friday, RCB’s Head of Marketing and Revenue, Nikhil Sosale, was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport. Two employees from DNA Entertainment Network, Kiran Kumar and Sunil Mathew, were also detained in connection with event mismanagement.
BCCI Condemns Lapses in Planning
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia blamed poor planning for the tragedy. “This is the unfortunate side of popularity. Such events require meticulous coordination with law enforcement,” he said, recalling previous safe celebrations in Mumbai and Kolkata.
RCB’s Official Response
RCB issued a public statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident:
“We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light… RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extends heartfelt condolences to the affected families. We urge all supporters to stay safe.”
Related Reading:
🔗 IPL 2025 Final – RCB’s Road to Victory
🔗 The Hindu: Bengaluru Stampede – What Went Wrong
