Bengaluru Stampede During RCB Victory Celebration Kills 11, Over 30 Injured
New Delhi/Bengaluru | June 4, 2025 — What was meant to be a night of celebration turned into a nightmare as a stampede near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru claimed at least 11 lives and left more than 30 injured. The tragedy occurred during an event organized to commemorate the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) historic first-ever IPL title victory.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep sorrow over the incident, which unfolded amidst an overwhelming surge of fans near the stadium on Wednesday evening.
PM Modi Expresses Condolences
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) quoted PM Modi:
“The mishap in Bengaluru is absolutely heartrending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery.”
What Happened at Chinnaswamy Stadium?
Thousands of RCB fans had gathered near the stadium to participate in the victory celebration event, following the team’s historic IPL 2025 win. The official victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium, originally planned by the government, had earlier been cancelled for security reasons.
Despite the cancellation, massive crowds assembled near the stadium and surrounding areas. According to police reports, the stampede occurred when people began rushing in from multiple gates, creating dangerous congestion.
Emergency services struggled to reach the injured due to overcrowded roads, slowing ambulance movement. The victims were eventually shifted to Bowring and Vaidehi Hospitals.
Karnataka Government Confirms Deaths and Announces Compensation
At a press briefing in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed:
- 11 people have died, most of them young girls and boys
- 33 individuals are injured, but all are out of danger
- The government will provide ₹10 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased
- Free treatment will be offered to all injured victims
“A big tragedy has happened during the victory celebration. People gathered in numbers far beyond our expectations. Around 2 to 3 lakh people assembled near the stadium, which has a capacity of only 35,000,” said the CM.
He further added:
“No one expected this turnout. One lakh people had already gathered near Vidhana Soudha. The crowd was simply unmanageable.”
Magisterial Probe Ordered
In light of the tragedy, the Karnataka government has ordered a magisterial inquiry. CM Siddaramaiah said:
“I am deeply saddened. I have visited the hospitals and spoken to the families. A magisterial probe has been ordered, and strict action will be taken against those found guilty.”
Police Response and Crowd Control
Local authorities and police had been managing crowds since Tuesday night, anticipating high public enthusiasm after RCB’s win. However, despite preparations, the crowd size outpaced all estimates.
Police confirmed:
- Emergency response units faced logistical challenges due to the scale of the crowd
- The team had been on crowd-control duty throughout the night and into the event
Background: RCB’s First-Ever IPL Victory
The celebration was organized to honor RCB's maiden Indian Premier League trophy win, a moment that ignited massive fan celebrations across Karnataka and beyond. The team, led by Faf du Plessis and powered by strong performances from Virat Kohli, had captured public imagination throughout the season.
The event near Chinnaswamy Stadium was planned as a public tribute to the team, but crowd estimates were clearly misjudged.
Public Reactions and Next Steps
The incident has triggered outrage and sorrow on social media and among the general public, with many questioning the lack of better planning and crowd control for such a high-profile event.
A full report is expected once the magisterial inquiry concludes. Meanwhile, security around the stadium has been tightened, and further public events have been put on hold pending review.