11 dead in Bengaluru stampede
What should have been a night of jubilation turned into a nightmare in Bengaluru, as 11 people lost their lives and dozens were injured in a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during a celebratory event for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first-ever IPL title.
11 dead in Bengaluru stampede
RCB’s long-awaited moment of glory 18 years in the making was overshadowed by chaos and mismanagement. A felicitation ceremony meant to honour the team became a tragedy due to last-minute planning, poor crowd control, and ignored warnings.
11 dead in Bengaluru stampede
Chaos in Celebration
The stadium was packed as thousands of fans turned up to cheer their team. The event had free entry, a move that swelled the crowds beyond capacity. As people thronged the narrow entry points in desperation to witness the felicitation, the situation spiralled out of control, leading to a deadly stampede.
11 dead in Bengaluru stampede
Blame Game Begins
In the aftermath, a blame game broke out between the government, police, and RCB management. The Karnataka government initially claimed the event was arranged at the last minute, but a letter dated June 3, accessed by NDTV, tells a different story.
11 dead in Bengaluru stampede
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had sought prior permission for a potential celebration, not at the stadium, but at the steps of the Vidhana Soudha. The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) had referred this to the police, who reportedly rejected the plan citing security concerns.
11 dead in Bengaluru stampede
Despite that, the event was moved to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, and officials reportedly urged RCB to delay celebrations until Sunday to allow better planning. However, the franchise pushed back, citing the imminent departure of international players.
RCB, Government Respond
RCB issued a statement expressing deep sorrow and condolences for the lives lost, stating that they had complied with all guidance from authorities and even adjusted their program based on last-minute inputs.
11 dead in Bengaluru stampede
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar issued a public apology, admitting that crowd control fell short despite efforts to keep the event brief. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a high-level probe to investigate the sequence of failures.
BCCI Washes Its Hands Off
The BCCI and IPL quickly distanced themselves from the incident. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal clarified that official celebrations ended on Tuesday night, leaving any post-tournament felicitation to the discretion of the franchises. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia acknowledged “serious lapses” and emphasized that such large-scale events cannot be organized on short notice.
11 dead in Bengaluru stampede
A Night to Remember Turns into One to Mourn
The city of Bengaluru had waited nearly two decades to celebrate an IPL title. That dream finally came true but it ended in heartbreak for 11 families and left a deep scar on a moment that should have united the city in pure joy.
The incident is a sobering reminder of what can go wrong when excitement is not matched with preparation and how celebration without caution can come at a devastating cost.
